Dorothy J. "Dottie" Ballantyne, 80, of Solon, died Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Solon Nursing Care Center of kidney failure. Private family services were held at Oakland Cemetery in Solon. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Solon is handling "Dottie''s" arrangements.

Dottie was born May 6, 1936 in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of Lyle and Laura Reid. She graduated in 1954 from Van Nuys High School in California. She attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, where she met her future husband, Jim Ballantyne. They married on August 27, 1955 in Lamoni. After living briefly in Iowa City, they moved to Solon in the late 1950's. Dottie was a member of the Solon American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and was involved with the initial library project when it was housed under the bandstand at Mushroom Park. Dottie worked at Westinghouse from 1973–-1977, and in the laundry at the Solon Care Center for sixteen years, retiring in 1998. She had lived at the Solon Nursing Care Center since 2003 due to numerous health issues including Parkinson''s disease. She especially enjoyed family camping and canoeing trips, dogs, Triple Crown horse races, and dressing up for Halloween.

Dottie is survived by her son Darrel (Sue) of Solon, son Tom of Houston, Texas; sisters Norma Cretal of Thousand Oaks, California, and Shirley Frayer of Sonoma, California and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim in 1984, her younger brother Doug Reid in 1986, and her beloved dogs Coalette and Winnie.

The family wishes to thank the Solon Care Center for the years of comfort and friendship they provided to Dottie. Special thanks also to Mary Dyroff and her mini-horses, and Debra Pughe, Jon Winet, and the late "Mr. Dog" for their friendship.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mary''s Farm Animal Rescue, 5630 Wapello Avenue SE, Lone Tree, Iowa, 52755, National Kidney Foundation, or Parkinson''s Disease Foundation.