Dorothy Mae (Schroeder) Runningen, 86, died peacefully on March 16, 2018, at Gundersen Harmony Care Center.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 19 at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. The family greeted friends and family from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service and in the church basement hall following the service. Burial followed the reception at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Dorothy was born May 29, 1931, in Caledonia, Minn., to Ewald and Edna (Bunge) Schroeder. She graduated from Caledonia High School. She met her future husband, Vernon Runningen, on the family farm as Vernon was brought on as a hired man; they married on June 7, 1951. Dorothy and Vernon started out their married life farming in Caledonia, Spring Grove and Peterson (North Prairie), then moving to Fountain and Preston where together they owned and operated Preston Farm Service for over 25 years.
Dorothy, though officially a stay-at-home mom to their three children, also did bookkeeping at the elevator and taught many years of Sunday school at Christ Lutheran Church. She was active at Christ Lutheran, singing in the church choir, directing Sunday school programs, women’s circles, and making lefse for the annual Lutefisk Dinner.
Upon retirement, Dorothy and Vernon spent many winters in and eventually moved to Mesa, Ariz. Dorothy continued her love of cooking and baking, golf and going dancing with neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, son Bryan, and brother Roger. She is survived by her brother Curtis (Shirley) Schroeder, sister-in-law Nancy (Roger) Schroeder and sister-in-law Doris (Milo) Runningen; daughters Joyce (David) Fleck and Carol Runningen, grandchildren Melissa (Mark) Fleck-Allen, Katie Fleck and Allison (Allan) Spratt, and her great-grandchildren, Stella Allen and Hadley Spratt.
Memorials can be made in her name to Christ Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.Hindthudekfuneralhomes.com.