Dorothy Grothe

Dorothy J. Grothe, age 89, of Faribault, died on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault following a sudden illness.             Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Luke's Church in Faribault with the Reverend Aaron Brockmeier, officiating. Interment will be held at the Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.                   The family prefers that memorials be directed to St. Luke's Church in Dottie's memory.             Dorothy Jean Nichols Grothe (Dottie) was born on October 12, 1921 in Rice County, Minnesota. Her father, George Donaldson Nichols, was a lifelong postal carrier in Faribault, Minnesota, and her mother, Ethel Florence Michel Nichols, was a homemaker. As a child, Dottie was active in church, gymnastics, and school activities. She graduated from Faribault High School, class of 1939, and attended three and a half years at Winona State Teachers College. Dottie married Frederick I. Grothe, Faribault High School class of 1938, during World War II, when he was home on leave from the U.S. Air Force. Throughout their sixty-six year marriage, Fred often referred to Dottie as "the sweetest woman in the world." Together, they lived on a number of military bases. As a military wife, Dottie was supportive of Fred when he was called up again in 1951, during the Korean War. She acted as the bookkeeper for the family finances and for a startup business, Frederick-Willys Company, which became successful and was sold to Stanley Home Products in 1967. Fred and Dottie spent many years living in Farmington, Minnesota, before moving to Prior Lake, Minnesota, and eventually returning to live in Faribault. In school and throughout her life, Dottie had a gift for friendship, and stayed in touch with high school friends, neighbors, and business associates. She liked to travel to a second home in Florida and a cabin near Nisswa, Minnesota. Dottie laughed easily and had a warm, delightful personality. She was a devout Christian and member of the St. Luke's Church, where she gave her testimony this past June. She stayed in touch with her extended family including in recent times through her computer. After her husband died in 2009, she lived independently, but struggled with health issues and after a series of strokes, died peacefully, with excellent care, at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault. She was unafraid of death and looked forward to being reunited with her beloved Savior and her beloved husband. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, by her husband, Frederick, and her brother, Robert Nichols. Her sons and daughters and their spouses survive her, including Dave Grothe and Margaret Hasse, Steve Grothe, Patty and Lane Purcell, and Becky and Steve Sanford. Dorothy was a very loving grandmother, including of Zak and Calli Grothe, Naomi and Brett Latimer, Julia and Scott Nelson, David and Melanie Purcell, Elizabeth and Jordan Carlson, Brianna and Ben Zeckmeister, Cam and Becca Sanford, Caleb Sanford, Michael Grothe, and Alex Grothe, and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Ruth Nichols, a daughter-in-law, Jacqi Grothe, nieces and nephews and cousins.