---

Dorothy (Freeman)Dovenbarger, of Chisago City, was the fourth of nine children born to Frank and Cora Freeman in Anoka, Minnesota. After growing up on the family farm, she and her sister Ellen made their contribution to the WWII effort with their work at the Minneapolis Arsenal munitions production facility. Her memories of that time included cafeteria "food fights" and elaborate practical jokes the young women played among themselves. During this period, she also attended Northwest Bible College. After the war, she obtained cosmetology certification and worked in the beauty salon of Dayton's department store in Minneapolis. It was at this time that the pastor of her Spring Lake Park Baptist Church introduced her to his pal, Edward Dovenbarger from Nebraska. After that fateful meeting, Ed piloted his small airplane north to Minnesota several times to court Dorothy. They married in 1951 and moved to his home in Nebraska where Dorothy quickly adapted to life in a small farming community. She and Ed raised three daughters and developed many lifelong friendships in Fremont, Nebraska. Dorothy was a church leader and served in the Sunday School as well as managed many fellowship events. She was employed at Dodge County Hospital and worked as a unit secretary in the surgical department.

After Ed's retirement they moved to Wisconsin and spent summers at their lake home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and were active members of the Maranatha Evangelical Free church. They enjoyed winters in Texas at a senior RV community where Dorothy taught water aerobics, as well as weaving classes. Ed and Dorothy enjoyed active winters filled with sunshine and many friends in this "snowbird" community.

In an effort to be closer to her siblings, Dorothy and Ed moved to Lindstrom, were they spent several years enjoying fun and fellowship with friends at Lakes Free Church. This time was blessed with good health and her calender was busy with social events, volunteer work and teaching Swedish weaving classes. She enjoyed baking, crocheting, bird watching, weaving, visits from her daughters and grandchildren, and traveling to Illinois, Colorado, Nebraska, and her final "big" vacation to Germany.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers; Walter Freeman, Jerry Freeman, Clifford Freeman and Ray Freeman. Surviving siblings are; Emily Fisher of Anoka, Minnesota; Ellen Dahlquist of Sterling, Virginia; Louis Freeman of Rogers, Minnesota and Donna Marinello of East Bethel, Minnesota.

Dorothy's daughters are: Suzanne Alley of Ft. Collins, Colorado and grandchildren Grace and Claire; Jane (Robert) Rech of Athens, Illinois and grandchildren Allyssa and Lucas Brown; and Judy Maushart of Golden, Colorado and grandchildren, Elizabeth and Joseph.

Dorothy passed from this life May 31. Her memorial Service will be Tuesday, June 15 at Zion Lutheran Church, 28005 Old Town Road, Chisago City, Minnesota. Memorials preferred to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000 or www.samaritan purse.org. Grandstrand Funeral Home, 651-257-4000.

---