Dorothy Mae Payne

Dorothy M. (Buelow) Payne, 82, peacefully passed away on April 5, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Dorothy was born on April 10, 1940 in Laona, Wisconsin, to Raymond A. and Beatrice E. Schmoll Buelow.

She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Dorothy married the love of her life, Tumolehu Payne, from Sandy Utah, on August 13, 1988.

Dorothy had various jobs around Wisconsin. She was a data processor for about eight years at St. Mary’s Burn Center in Milwaukee. She moved to Shawano and Gresham area in 1978 and helped raise her sister’s children until moving to Utah in 1982. Dorothy was a data processor for J.C. Penny’s in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1983 until she retired.

During the first 40 years of her life, she lived in Milwaukee, Shawano, and Gresham, Wisconsin; and the last 42 years of her life, she lived in Salt Lake City and Sandy, Utah and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1961. Dorothy held various positions in the church and did genealogy for many years.

Dorothy did a lot of sewing and made quilts for her nephews, nieces and grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling, drawing, and photography. She was able to enjoy a trip to Tonga and New Zealand with her husband and her mother to visit Tu’s family. Dorothy loved family life and was blessed to be a surrogate mother to many children. She loved to cook and they would do luaus for family members.

She is preceded by her husband Tumelohu Payne, her daughter MaryAnn Fa’asu, her sister Geraldine Molzner, grandson Jaxson Tomasi Payne, her parents Raymond and Beatrice Buelow; and her close lifelong friends Marge and Aubrey Stoehr.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Eileen (Lonney) Casey of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kelly (Nancy) Harms, of Kearns, Utah; Brian (Cathy) Harms of Kearns, Utah; Jane (BA) Acres of Fort Worth, Texas; Judy (Lopa) Nu’usilla of West Valley, Utah; Tomasi (Joy) Payne of Queen Creek, Arizona; siblings: Ellsworth (Margaret) Buelow of Fox Lake, Wisconsin; Richard (Kathleen) Buelow of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Carol (Todd) Stoeher of Antigo, Wisconsin. Dorothy was blessed with 25 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 10 nieces, 10 nephews, and many dear friends she gathered over the years.

A graveside Celebration of Life will be held in Dorothy’s honor at the Memorial Lake Hills Cemetery (10055 S State Street, Sandy Utah 84070) on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at which time you are welcome to come forward and share your memories of Dorothy.