Dorothy Lou (Pochop) Uecker, 94, of Rancho Cordova, California, passed away in her home on September 9, 2026. She was born on April 29, 1932, in Gregory, SD, and was one of eight children. Growing up, she worked alongside her father, Louie, and her siblings in the family store. As a teen, she enjoyed attending dances in neighboring towns with her siblings and friends. In 1950, Dorothy graduated from Gregory High School. She then attended and graduated from Methodist State Hospital School of Nursing on Sept 8, 1953. After graduating, she worked as a registered nurse (RN) in the Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units (ICU and CCU) until her retirement at age 62.
Dorothy loved when family would come to visit. She enjoyed spending time working with her beautiful flowers and treasured her 50-year-old yellow rosebush. Having green grass was so important to her, and she held to a precise watering schedule. She also loved to read and had a sharp memory, which enabled her to remember the plots of books she had read many years prior.
After graduating from nursing school, she was married to Robert Lloyd Uecker. Four children were born to that marriage.
Dorothy is survived by her four children: Rob, Kevin, Karen and Cheryl. She is also survived by her sister Frances Hogrefe (Gregory), brother Jim Pochop and his wife Marilyn (Gregory), and her sister-inlaw Frances Pochop (Gregory).
