Dorathy Mae Carlson

Dorathy Mae (West) Carlson, age 96, of Litchfield, MN went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at the Ecumen Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the Litchfield Christian Church. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Friday at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home with a 6:30 PM prayer time and remembrance; and will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be held in Lake Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield, MN. Memorials are preferred to the Litchfield Area Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Dorathy Mae Carlson, the daughter of Arthur and Edna (Hoke) West, was born on March 31, 1919 in Paullina, Iowa. At age 11, she moved to Litchfield with her family to farm. Dorathy graduated from Litchfield High School and attended teachers training at Longfellow School. She was a country school teacher until united in marriage to Delbert W. Carlson on April 6, 1941 at the Church of Christ in Litchfield, MN. Delbert served in WWII, and their daughter, Susan, was born in 1944, when he was in Europe. When he returned from service, they bought a family farm in Harvey Township and made their lives farming together. Four more children were born to their family: Dennis, Brian, Vicki and David. Dorathy was involved with the family business; raising many chickens on the farm, specializing in laying hens. After retirement, Dorathy and Del were snowbirds to Texas for 15 years, spending winters at Brownsville on the Gulf of Mexico, just miles from Mexico. They were visited there by many family and friends over those years. Moving to town in 2000, they bought a home in Litchfield and moved off the farm. Dorathy then volunteered at Lake Ripley School as a classroom grandparent for Volunteers of America for a number of years. She loved teaching, and loved children. Dorathy was an active member of the Litchfield Christian Church and was a dedicated Bible reader/study leader, often using J. Sidlow Baxter's books and study guides. Dorathy enjoyed camping, snowmobiling, sewing, smocking, cooking, gardening and growing gladiolus and irises. She will be remembered for her gift of hospitality and was known for her potluck lemon meringue pie. During the years The Library Restaurant was in Litchfield, she supplied her lemon meringue pie for the patrons for several years. Dorathy is survived by her children Dennis (Jean) Carlson of Red Wing, MN, Brian (Carol) Carlson of Chaska, MN, Vicki (Steve) Peters of Litchfield, MN and David (Lisa) Carlson of Litchfield, MN; and son-in-law Kenneth Bothof of Dexter, MI. Her 12 grandchildren were her joy: Cathy Bothof, Karen (Bothof) Magdich, Scott Carlson, Andy Carlson, Ryan Peters, Mark Peters, Lori Peters, Lisa Peters; Estee (Carlson) Robleto, Kailey Carlson, Hailey Carlson, Keaton Carlson. Dorathy also has 13 great grandchildren. Surviving siblings include brothers Gale West of Kenyon, MN and Ronald (Joanne) West of Joplin, MO; sisters Glady Anderson of Minnetonka, MN, Shirley (Phillip) Klein of Albert Lea, MN and Carol (Allan) Harrison of Brainerd, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband Delbert; daughter Susan Bothof; parents Arthur and Edna West; brother Arthur West; sisters Anne (Skip) Conner, Hazel Widlund and Betty Helgeson; brothers-in-law Donald Anderson and Bob Helgeson; and sisters-in-law Marie West and Gladys West.Previous Events Visitation Friday, November 27, 2015 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Saturday, November 28, 2015 2:00 PM Litchfield Christian Church 312 North Marshal Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355