Dorothy Helen (Lansdale) Balok

Dorothy Helen (Lansdale) Balok

1935-2026 age 91

Was reunited in heaven with her loved ones on March 24, 2026.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, William E Balok, in 2011; her loving daughter Debra Craft; her parents, R D and Vida Mae (Clanton) Lansdale; all of her siblings – Winfred, Louie, James, Bill, Dorman and Shirley; and special companion Art Howland.

 Dorothy was born on January 6, 1935, in Crossett, Arkansas.  Her family later moved to the Dyess Colony, Arkansas where they worked hard on the land growing cotton and sweet potatoes along with the other families in the Dyess Colony notably the family of Johnny Cash.  There she made a childhood friend that she kept for her lifetime, Cora Ann Roberts Blue.  In 1950, the family moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where Dorothy graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1952.  She had perfect attendance for her entire public-school career of twelve years.  After graduation, she worked for the South Shore Railroad in South Bend and then at Associates Investment Company in South Bend where she met her husband.  Bill and Dottie were married at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, South Bend in 1956, remaining lifelong members and renewed their vows there in 2006.  They raised four daughters on the west side of South Bend and later moved to their Donnell Lake home in Vandalia, Michigan, where they enjoyed hosting everyone to a lake visit.  After they both retired from Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan, Michigan, they enjoyed the warm weather in Leesburg, Florida.

 Left to cherish her memory are her three daughters and their families: Diane Leniski (Dave), South Bend, Indiana; Donna Weiler, Fortville, Indiana; and Terri Szalay (Joe), South Bend, Indiana.  She was blessed with seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  She had many lifelong family friends. 

Dottie was a true optimist who loved helping people and working in her flower garden, but she loved her family most of all.  She didn’t know a stranger and could start a conversation with anyone.  She taught herself how to sew and play the piano.  She enjoyed playing cards, watching movies and talking about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Through the years, she volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Singing Sands, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the Cass County Senior Center and the Lakes at Leesburg Community Center.

 A visitation for Dorothy will be held from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm in the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana.

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