Dorothy Kuklish Setlik was born on September 1, 1930, on the family farm in the Antelope Valley area of Custer County nine miles southwest of Sargent, Nebraska, to Louis and Anna (Nekuda) Kuklish. She was the youngest of four children, joining her siblings, Lillian, Millard and Lumire.

Dorothy received her elementary education at the Antelope Valley Country School and graduated from Sargent High School in 1947, with a Normal Training degree. She spent the next seven years teaching at local country schools, Somerford and Round Valley. During this time she attended summer sessions at Kearney State Teachers College, now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney.

In 1954, Dorothy became a full-time student and in 1956 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. In 1957, she received a Master’s degree in education. Dorothy was a member of the second graduating class. She spent the following two years at the Chadron Campus School in Chadron, Nebraska teaching 5th and 6th grade.

On November 28, 1959, Dorothy was united in marriage to Adrian Setlik of Ord, Nebraska. The couple spent two years helping Dorothy’s parents farm then moved to Sacramento, California in October of 1961.

For the next forty and a half years many 1st grade students were welcomed each day by Mrs. Setlik at the San Juan Unified School District. Upon retirement of her husband, Adrian in February of 1993, Dorothy would join him in retirement and took the “Golden Handshake”.

During retirement the couple enjoyed dancing, ornamental gardening and home interior design. They made numerous trips to “come home” to Nebraska.

Following Arian’s passing in September of 2010, Dorothy continued living in their home until December of 2019, when she moved to the Camden Springs Retirement Community at Elk Grove, California.

Dorothy’s affiliations included the Retired Teacher Association and the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association.

Survivors include loving nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Lillian (Ed) Vanek, Millard (Irene) Kuklish and Lumire (Georgia) Kuklish.

Graveside Services will be held at a later date at Czech National Bohemian Cemetery west of Ord, Nebraska.