Dorothy Mae Kiehne, 88, of rural Lanesboro took her first breath of Glory on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, when her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ welcomed her home. At the time of her death, Dorothy had resided at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minn., for just over 19 months; she courageously battled colon cancer for over six years.
Dorothy was born August 22, 1933, in Preston, Minn., to Henry and Agnes Ristau. After graduating from Preston High School, she worked as a bookkeeper at Preston Creamery, saving money to purchase her own brand new car from Peterson Motors in Lanesboro, Minn. Peterson Motors gave her a really great deal on her second purchase of new 1950s-era Ford car (her younger sister rolled Dorothy’s first new car during a failed driving lesson which left Dorothy pinned underneath the car).
Dorothy drove her beautiful new light tan car to work, parking right out front of the Creamery. Soon afterwards, this handsome young farmer, who also just happened to haul milk into the Creamery asked her, “Soooooo, when do I get to ride in your new car?” Hence the “First Date,” and as Dorothy shared with OT/PT, “The rest was history!”
Dorothy and Arlen D. Kiehne were married on July 21, 1961. Shortly after marriage, Dorothy shifted her career to full-time dairy/beef/crop farming operations with her husband and raising their children.
For over 15 years, Dorothy’s Saturday nights included preparing lessons on Jesus for her preschool Sunday School class at Christ Lutheran, as well as extensive art projects to enhance the lesson. Water became wine with the help of Kool-Aid, fishing poles caught construction paper “fishies” with a piece of candy taped to the back, and students plied budding carpentry skills “just like Jesus”! Attendance charts became adding decorations to a Christmas tree for December, or more fruit to the cornucopia for November, or adding another baby duck to the pond with Mama duck. She passionately loved making Jesus come alive, planting little seeds of His love, mercy and grace in her students’ hearts.
Dorothy enjoyed sending (and receiving) cards, reading Christian romance novels, taking pictures, baking her famous brownies, planting her garden, sewing and embroidery work, journaling, climbing on the Honda 4-wheeler to go set her gopher traps, and all things farming, especially driving tractors. Although strongly resistant to “those green tractors,” as their tractor ownership gradually shifted from red to green, she eventually grew to love driving her JD8120 on the gravity box behind the combine.
Dorothy leaves behind her husband of 60 years, Arlen Kiehne of Lanesboro; children: John Kiehne of Lanesboro and Susan Kiehne of Preston; four grandchildren: Jennifer (Travis) Schurhammer, Jason (Trisha) Jacobson, and Elayna and Maegan Kiehne; four great-grandchildren: Bradyn and Josie Jacobson, and Emma and Eliana Schurhammer; son-in-law Kirby Rennerfeldt, sister-in-law Ella Ristau, and sister Emily Lange.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sally (Kiehne Jacobson) Rennerfeldt; and four brothers: Herman, Roy, Dale, and Roger.
Dorothy’s family would like to thank Mayo Clinic’s Oncology, Palliative Care, and Vascular Wound Care medical personnel, along with the wonderful ED and hospital staff; Chosen Valley Care Center, and Mayo Hospice for their wonderful care of Dorothy.
Visitation will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston on Friday, June 17 from 5–7 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m, Saturday, June 18 at Christ Lutheran Church. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting the family with arrangements.
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