Dorothy "Dottie" Madsen

Dorothy "Dottie" Madsen, age 100 of Litchfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at her home in Litchfield. Memorial services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Litchfield, MN on August 8, 2024 at 2P.M.  Visitation will be one hour before services at the church.  

Dorothy Florence Hanscom Madsen was born June 24, 1924 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was the first child of Harold Earl Hanscom, a pharmacist and pharmaceutical salesman, and Florence Kuntz Hanscom, both of Willmar. She was the elder sister of the Hanscom’s second child, Don. 

She grew up and was educated in St. Paul. She graduated Hamline University, having studied to be a nurse and medical technician. She was a nurse in the Navy during World War 2 and worked at the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis. She formed deep and lasting friendships with several of her colleagues and the women often traveled together and with her parents. By her own reckoning, she had visited all 48 of the contiguous states during her lifetime.

On June 18, 1955 she was married to Marshall Nelson Madsen, of Willmar, a hunting and fishing buddy of her father and her cousin, Bob McGraw, and the newlyweds settled in Bloomington and joined Hope Presbyterian Church. Their first child, Amy Louise, was born in May of 1958. Their second child, Robert Earl, was born in May of 1959. Dottie’s time and efforts were devoted to the care of her family.

In 1967, the family moved to Birmingham, AL where they joined the Second Presbyterian Church. In 1972, the family moved to Stone Mountain,GA and joined Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. In 1992, following Marshall’s retirement, the couple moved to Litchfield and joined the First Presbyterian Church. Dottie was active in all the churches where she was a member, serving, at various time, in Presbyterian Women, the Board of Deacons, and as an elder at First (Litchfield). 

Dottie lived out the faith she professed. Her attention was often focused on the needs of others. Visitors would be inundated with offers of food. Rides were given to strangers. All were welcomed.

She is survived by her daughter (Amy Sullivan), son-in-law (Kevin Sullivan), son (Bob Madsen) daughter-in-law (Linda Madsen), cousins, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care at the University of Minnesota, grossmancenter@umn.edu.