Dorothy Ruth Brun was born February 8, 1929 in Des Moines, IA to Alva and Gladys (Gillham) Cox. She grew up in Des Moines with a short stay in Washington, D.C. Dorothy graduated from East High School in Des Moines. She moved to Fairfield, IA after she married, where she had six children. She then moved to Arizona where she had her 7th child, April. In 1969, she moved with her children to Cortez, CO and then returned to Iowa in 1970. She owned her own restaurant in Arizona and has always been in the food service business. Prior to retirement, she was employed by the Iowa Air National Guard, where she provided meals to military personnel. Five of her children made the military their career. Six of her children went to college.

Dorothy loved people. She had seven children, raised several grandkids and dedicated her life to caring for her family. Dorothy loved the Iowa State Fair and visited every year of her life. One of her favorite things to do was go to the Farmers' Market every Saturday in Des Moines. She loved working in her flower beds and vegetable gardens, and playing cards especially with her sister Donna. Dorothy loved to travel and made many trips to visit her son Rex in Hawaii. She would save her quarters for these visits and called them her "Hawaiian Quarters." Dorothy loved to cook and took it as an insult if you did not take a second round of food. She loved to put puzzles together and was an animal lover who especially loved dogs. Her favorite dog was a Basset Hound named Rosie. Dorothy loved sports and was the number one fan of her children's and grandchildren's athletic activities. She was a great dancer and loved to shoot pool.

Dorothy passed away Monday, May 8, 2017, in her home at the age of 88 years. Survivors include her children, Linda Daniel, Rex Brun, Thomas Brun, Irene Brun, Doris Garland, Cindy Brun, Brenda Reed, April (John) Marmon, and Chuck (Carroll Wheaton) Brun; grandchildren, Kristin (Justin) Keller, Jessica (Brian) Carlson, Jevon (Lindsay) Brun, Clarice (Jerome) Dennison, Shawnalyn Christian, Terry (Katie) Minor, Christina Grylls, Joann Daniel, Lynn Daniel, Steve Daniel, Myron Avery; 14 great-grandchildren and nine great great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother Gladys Cox; brothers, Kenneth, Harold, and Richard Cox; and sister, Donna Challinor.