Dorothy Gunderson

Dorothy Verona Gunderson, 96, died December 17 at her home at Emmaus Place in Litchfield. A funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield on Friday, December 27 2024, at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. The service will be live streamed at www.johnsonhagglund.com. 

Dorothy was born on March 31, 1928 to Herman and Anna(Klatt) Krause in Buffalo, MN and she grew up on the family farm between Buffalo and Montrose. Dorothy was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Buffalo. She attended school in Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1945, the War Class. After graduation, she attended the one-year Litchfield Teacher Training program and began her career teaching multiple grades in several rural school districts in the Litchfield area before moving into the Litchfield School District, teaching 3rd Grade at Wagner and Ripley Elementary. While she was teaching and raising a family, she completed her bachelor's degree through St. Cloud State University. She retired in 1989 after 31 years of teaching. 

It was early in her teaching career when Dorothy met a young local man at a roller-skating event. It was love at first sight and after a 6-month courtship, she and George W. Gunderson were married on August 17, 1947, at St Johns Lutheran Church in Buffalo. They made their home in Litchfield and were blessed with 3 children, David, Steven, and Nancy. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church for 65 and 77 years respectively. Church and faith were important to her and George and she was actively involved in church activities, including teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving as a Stephen Minister, WELCA, volunteering on a number of church boards, and Mission Sewing. She was also involved with the Red Hat Ladies and Study Club of Litchfield. 

Dorothy and George loved to travel with family and friends, and they were able to visit all 50 states and 8 European countries in their time together. Family camping trips were also a ritual for the entire family every summer. George and Dorothy were members of several camping clubs and enjoyed spending several winters in Arizona and Texas. 

Dorothy enjoyed roller skating, bowling, baking, camping, and her flower garden, but most importantly, spending quality time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved to play board games, Yahtzee, Fast Track, and card games, especially Bridge, and she was tenacious, she always played to win, whether it was with friends, or her own children and grandchildren. Dorothy was a faithful servant of her faith, an avid reader, and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. 

Dorothy is survived by her sons, David(Beckie) Gunderson of Litchfield, Steven(Jody) Gunderson of Waconia, and daughter Nancy(John) Hafner of Willmar, grandchildren: Chelsie(Justin) Olund, Joshua(Allie) Gunderson, Dylan(Jenna) Gunderson, Tony(Branwyn) Hafner, Jenna Hafner, and Matthew Hafner; step-grandchildren Jake(Sunny) Mitlyng, Adam(Samantha) Mitlyng, and Luke Mitlyng; 10 great-grandchildren, one sister Beatrice James and one brother David(Judy) Krause and many nieces and nephews. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband George in 2012, brothers William and Harold, sisters Myrtle Krause, Margaret Hoffman, and Jean Brede, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and also several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church – Litchfield, MN.