Dorothea Curtis Therneau, age 84, from Spring Valley, passed away September 19 at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, Minn.
Dorothy was born December 15, 1932, in Rochester, Minn., one of 12 children. She graduated from high school in 1951 and was united in marriage to Minar Therneau on March 1, 1952. She was a farmer for 50 years, taking pride in raising nine children, tending a huge garden, canning fruits and vegetables, cooking, caring for the newborn calves, and being the farm carpenter.
She loved to sew, making numerous clothing items over the years, including wedding dresses for four of her daughters. It was later in life, though, that she found her true passion, quilting. She made quilts, table runners, and wall hangings for weddings, birthdays, Christmas, and baby gifts. She also loved to garden, especially growing varieties of flowers. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds and was an avid reader. Her weekly coffee time with friends and the monthly luncheons with her high school classmates were always a high point. She loved jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and solitaire — but enjoyed playing cards with family even more. She never cared if she won or lost; she just enjoyed the game. She also loved a good joke.
Dorothy had a caring and loving heart and was everything you could ever want a mom to be. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Minar in 2014; her daughters Jill, Deb, and Tricia, son-in-law Neil, her parents, and nine siblings. She is survived by her children: Terry (Carol) of Rochester; Judith Hall of Hudson, Wis.; Kirk of Spring Valley; Patti (Mike) Anderson of Clear Lake, Iowa; Karen (Reed) Oeltjen of Beldenville, Wis.; and Tracy (Sergio) Guaman of Minneapolis; 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and six stepgreat-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Dorothy will be held 11 am. Thursday, September 28 at Faith United Methodist Church, Spring Valley, Minn. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 27 at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley. Memorials can be made to Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, Minn., or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be left at www.HindtFuneralHomes.com.