Dorothy D. James, age 96, of Mullen and North Platte, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Linden Court in North Platte.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM Central Time at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow, NE. Visitation and time to greet the family will be held prior to the service from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A graveside service will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM Mountain Time at the Cedarview Cemetery in Mullen NE. The family will welcome visitors at Dorothy’s home in Mullen following the burial. Memorials are suggested to Mullen EMS or Mullen Fire Department. Govier
Brothers Mortuary/Mullen Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements. Online words
of remembrance or condolences may be left at govierbrothers.com
Dorothy DeMaris James was born September 29, 1929, in Anselmo, NE. She was the third of five children born to Mick and Lela (Empfield) Daily. Growing up in Custer County, Dorothy was surrounded by a large, close-knit extended family, and she cherished memories of Sunday dinners and other family gatherings with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Dorothy graduated from Merna High School. She completed normal training and taught at two schools in the Anselmo/Merna area. She married Olen “Oley” P. Olson on May 1, 1948, and they had three children—Roger, Lana, and Olen “Oley.” After her husband’s death, she lived and worked in Merna. For one summer, Dorothy and the children lived with her sister in Mullen where Dorothy worked in the café. She and her young family then returned to Merna.
Dorothy married Eugene “Gene” W. James on February 3, 1957, in Mullen and moved with the children to the family ranch north of town, where they raised cattle. Over the next few years, they welcomed son Kim and daughter Penny. Starting in 1967 they maintained a home in Mullen during the school year, then moved into Mullen full-time in 1976.
In addition to raising their children, Dorothy spent time gardening, cooking, sewing, and raising chickens. Some of her specialties and family favorites included chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes, sour cream chocolate cake, banana split dessert, and holiday candies. Dorothy’s mints were a popular feature at most family celebrations, and she was hired to make them for others in the community as well. She could make nearly any color, matching the mints to napkins or fabric swatches.
Dorothy was also into crafting throughout her life, decorating sweatshirts, embroidering towels, and eventually creating beautiful quilts. Dorothy and Gene enjoyed traveling to visit their children and relatives and also took several bus tours and other trips.
In recent years, Dorothy lived in the Linden Estates assisted living community in North Platte, but she enjoyed getting back to the house in Mullen whenever she could for holidays and family visits.
Dorothy is survived by children Oley (Julie) Olson of Mullen, Kim James of Sioux Falls, and Penny James of Omaha; daughter-in-law Yvonne “Bunny” Olson of Papillion; grandchildren Tabi (Scott) Zimmerman, Tamara (Lowell) Paulson, Jim (Carrie) Olson, Angie Smith, Riley Pearman, Traci Pearman, Megan (Tim) Andersen, Jay Olson, and Mikki (Jared) Hensley; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Don (Jodi) Daily of Kearney and sister Dixie (Doug) Englehardt of Great Falls, MT, special niece Peggy (Bob) Marsh and nephew Bruce (Patty) Bader as well as numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brother Robert “Bob” Daily; sister Virginia Bader; son Roger Olson; daughter Lana Pearman; and special nephew Kenny Bader.
