Biopic of Dorothy Lillian Menke

Dorothy Lillian Menke was born on September 29, 1921, at her home in St Louis, Missouri. Her parents were Oscar Allen Menke (1888-1972) and Elizabeth Helena Meyer (1889-1972). Her brother, Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972) was the only other child in the home. Dorothy's middle name was to honor her paternal aunt, Lillian Menke (1894-1986).

In the photo, one can see Dorothy, her son, David, and her husband, John MacAleney.

At the age of six, Dorothy's family moved into a new home in Webster Groves, Missouri (a suburb of St Louis). Dorothy's father was a businessman who owned his own printing company. Most of the printing done by Menke Printing was advertising, and Dorothy was often a "model" featured in the printed ads.

Dorothy was born with straight hair, but when her maternal grandmother was dying in 1923, she ran her fingers through Dorothy's hair, and two months later Dorothy's hair became as curly as her grandmother's.

Dorothy graduated from Webster Groves High School in 1940, and then went to Stephens College, an all-women's school. Dorothy wanted to become an actress and was quite good. However, her parents didn't want her to be an actress, so they pulled her out of school and put her to work in the family business as a secretary.

Dorothy met a man, Marshal Borcherts (1920? -?) in 1942 and got married. They had a child, Stephen, but then separated in 1945. Stephen was raised by his mother and grandparents.

In 1950, Dorothy met and married John MacAleney (1911-1979), and they had a son, David. Dorothy and John divorced in 1957 and Dorothy became a single parent again. She and David lived at 339 Redwood Drive, Webster Groves until 1968. Dorothy worked as a sales lady most of that time.

In 1968, Dorothy moved to Hawaii, met a Hawaiian man, Kimo Kahue (1925? -?) and married him. They were married for 6 years before separating.

For much of Dorothy's life, she was a heavy smoker and an alcoholic. She joined A.A. in 1973 and remained sober the last 8 years of her life.

Dorothy died of heart failure in 1981 in her adopted home of Hawaii but was buried in the family "plot" near St Louis, Missouri.