Dorene Garness

Dorene Garness, 71, of Canton, Minn., and Mission, Tex., passed peacefully at her home in Canton, surrounded by her family, on March 8, 2021, after a lengthy battle with cancer.   

Dorene was born April 8, 1949, to Myron and Carla Johnson of Mabel, Minn., and married her husband Dennis in August of 1968. 

Dorene is survived by her husband Dennis, son Corey (Amy), daughters Nicole (Paul) Holm and Valerie (Travis) Torgerson, and sisters Shirley (Rick) Landsom and Betsy (Neil) Folstad.  Dorene was blessed with six grandchildren: Baillie, Samantha, Kennedy, Benjamin, Grace, and Gunnar.

Dorene enjoyed social gatherings with great friends at her home in Mission, Tex., where she also volunteered teaching line dancing to her community.  She worked for many years at the State Farm insurance agency in Harmony, Minn.  Additionally, she served several years on the Mabel-Canton School Board, was a Girl Scout troop leader, and even at the end was always there for family and friends at times of need. 

Dorene was always thinking and caring about others and putting their needs ahead of her own.  In that spirit, the family asks that donations to her favorite charities be made in lieu of flowers, food, etc.  Organizations that were important to Dorene include St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and the Mayo Foundation.  Dorene’s family would like to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to the Mayo Clinic and its wonderful staff who provided Dorene’s medical care in recent years.

Dorene’s wishes are that no services be planned at this time, however the family is planning to hold a memorial and celebration of her life at her home in Canton this coming summer.

The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.