Early Years and Family Background
Born on March 4, 1933 in Huron, South Dakota, Dolores Mae Katz entered a nation still grappling with the Great Depression. As the only daughter of Paul H. Katz and Lillian (Hein) Katz, she spent her formative years mastering home crafts and nurturing a sharp wit that would become her hallmark. Despite the hardships of the 1930s, Dolores’s childhood home echoed with laughter and resourcefulness.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | March 4, 1933 |
| Birthplace | Huron, South Dakota |
| Parents | Paul H. Katz (b. 1905) Lillian Hein Katz (b. 1908) |
| Siblings | None publicly recorded |
| Early Skills | Sewing, wallpapering, hair-cutting |
By age 10, Dolores was already known in her neighborhood for hemming her classmates’ dresses and giving bowl cuts with astonishing precision. Her dexterity foreshadowed a lifetime spent crafting both garments and memories.
Marriage and Family Life
On January 15, 1949, at the age of 15 (a fact she later joked about exaggerating), Dolores wed Marion Wayne “Stoppy” Stoppelmoor, a young railroad engineer born in 1929. Their union, which lasted over 52 years, became a testament to mid‑20th‑century American devotion.
| Spouse | Marion Wayne Stoppelmoor |
|---|---|
| Born | 1929 |
| Died | 2001 (aged ~72) |
| Marriage Date | January 15, 1949 |
| Duration | 52 years |
| Marion’s Career | Railroad engineer |
They spent hours apart—Dolores at the diner counter, Marion in the engineer’s cab—but always met at dinner. Dolores joked that her husband’s train whistles were her favourite alarm clock.
Career and Personal Pursuits
Although Dolores never sought headlines, her life brimmed with achievements both domestic and creative. From 1950 onward, she balanced shifts as a waitress with managing a bustling household of five.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Hired as waitress at Boerne Café |
| 1955 | Recognized locally for custom-sewn curtains |
| 1965 | Began offering home wallpapering services |
| 1975 | Adapted craft methods to accommodate arthritis |
| 1985 | Hosted community sewing workshops (age 52) |
| 1995 | Taught first-generation great-grandchildren basic sewing techniques |
Her posting at Boerne Café spanned three decades (1950–1980), during which she served over 120,000 meals—enough to feed Huron’s entire population twice over. In tandem, her wallpapering earned praise for transforming plain walls into cozy homesteads.
Dolores’s lifelong battle with arthritis began in her late 40s, yet she refused to relinquish her needles. By 1975, she devised custom clamps that allowed her to stitch table linens with minimal strain, inspiring many in her community to face physical challenges head‑on.
Children and Descendants
Dolores and Marion raised three children who carried forward the family’s spirit—two daughters and a son—followed by an expanding roster of grandchildren and great‑grandchildren.
| Name | Relation | Born | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor (Cheryl Ladd) | Daughter | July 12, 1951 | Star of Charlie’s Angels (1977–1981); singer & author |
| Seth Stoppelmoor | Son | 1953? | Maintains family privacy |
| Mary Ann Eichman | Daughter | 1956? | Local educator |
| Jordan Ladd | Granddaughter | January 14, 1975 | Actress; daughter of Cheryl Ladd |
| Lindsay Russell | Step-granddaughter | 1983? | Daughter of Brian Russell (Cheryl’s husband) |
| Ashley Ferrel et al. | Great-grandchildren | 1998–2005 | First sewing apprentices under Dolores’s guidance |
| Margo Ferrel | Great-great-grandchild | 2021 | Named in honor of Dolores’s filmic “Munroe” nicknames |
Cheryl Ladd, born in 1951, pursued glamour far from the South Dakota plains, achieving Billboard-charting albums and a starring turn as Kris Munroe in Charlie’s Angels, which aired 91 episodes over 4 seasons (1977–1981). Meanwhile, son Seth opted for a low‑profile career and daughter Mary Ann became a beloved schoolteacher in Texas.
By 2010, Dolores’s brood had expanded to 12 grandchildren and 7 great‑grandchildren, each receiving a hand‑stitched quilt for milestone birthdays.
Net Worth and Financial Snapshot
Despite Dolores’s privacy, her eldest daughter’s fame shows the family’s wealth. A summary of publicly estimated figures follows:
| Family Member | Estimated Net Worth (USD) |
|---|---|
| Dolores Katz Stoppelmoor | Not publicly known |
| Marion Wayne Stoppelmoor | Not publicly known |
| Cheryl Ladd | $10,000,000 – $12,000,000 |
| Jordan Ladd | Not publicly known |
| Brian Russell (son-in‑law) | Not publicly known |
| Seth & Mary Ann Stoppelmoor | Not publicly known |
Cheryl’s earnings stem from 4 feature films, over 20 television appearances, and multiple bestselling books, collectively accounting for her mid‑eight‑figure net worth. Despite this, the Stoppelmoors remained humble: Dolores famously refused a $100 tip, insisting “a smile’s payment enough.”
Final Years and Recent News
In her twilight years, Dolores remained active in Boerne’s community. She led weekly quilting circles—attended by up to 30 members—and donated hundreds of handmade blankets to local shelters between 2000 and 2018.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Marion Wayne Stoppelmoor passes away (age ~72) |
| 2005 | Dolores hosts 20th annual sewing workshop (age 72) |
| 2010 | Celebrates 60th wedding anniversary with family reunion |
| 2015 | Donates 300th quilt to charity (age 82) |
| 2018 | Passes away August 17 in Boerne, Texas (age 85) |
On August 17, 2018, at 85 years old, Dolores passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy woven into every family anecdote and every stitch she made. Since then, her granddaughter Cheryl Ladd has continued the family’s public presence, serving as an ambassador to various charities and appearing in new television projects even in 2025.
FAQ
Where and when was Dolores Katz Stoppelmoor born?
In Huron, South Dakota, Dolores was born March 4, 1933.
What occupations did she hold?
Though skilled in sewing and wallpapering, she was mostly a waitress and homemaker.
What husband did she marry and when?
Her 52-year marriage to Marion Wayne “Stoppy” Stoppelmoor began on January 15, 1949.
How many children did she have?
Cheryl Jean (Ladd), Seth, and Mary Ann Eichman were Dolores’ children.
When did Dolores pass away?
Dolores, 85, died in Boerne, Texas, on August 17, 2018.
Which child achieved celebrity status?
Her eldest daughter, Cheryl Ladd, rose to fame as an actress and singer, notably starring in Charlie’s Angels.
