Dorothy Irene Van Ness, formerly known as Dorothy Irene Gavle, died on Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, while at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. She had recently returned to Glenville where she planned on living the remainder of her life on her grandma’s farm.

Dorothy grew up in Glenville as the fifth child of Mabel and Myron Perkins. She met her first husband, Orice Lavern Gavle, at a dance hall in Albert Lea and was married in 1953. They moved to San Francisco, Calif. They were blessed with two children, Lorene (1962) and Kristine (1964). Theirs was a marriage of enduring love, friendship and devotion to family and friends. They enjoyed their yearly visits to Minnesota, camping trips and most of all, fishing. In 1976, Orice Gavle lost his battle to cancer and passed away peacefully with Dorothy by his side.

Dorothy’s main concern was raising her two daughters. Her strong family values kept her involved in all her children’s performances; whether it was making a costume or getting them to practices. She remarried in 1978, to Daryl Van Ness and continued to live in South San Francisco. She worked most of her life as a meat packer and decided to retire in 1994. She returned to Glenville in July 2013, where she purchased her grandmother’s farm. Active until her final days, she was lovingly surrounded by close family when she passed.

Dorothy’s love for the outdoors remained strong throughout her life. She learned to hunt and fish and taught these traits to both her children. She was raised on a farm, but even when her life was moved to the “Big City,” her city yard was transposed into an amazing garden that produced abundance of fruit and vegetables for her family, as well as friends and neighbors. She loved canning and baking and was known for her famous Dutch apple pie and Strawberry rhubarb pie. If you were lucky to have had a meal at her house, you were sent home with a doggie bag. The family will never forget her famous Norwegian dish, lefse, that her daughters fought over every year.

Her family will always remember her bright spirit, compassionate nature for animals, humor and kindness. She is survived by her husband, Daryl; sister, Ramona Wubben (Milaca); daughters, Lorene Camp (Pacifica) and Kristine Cloud (Galt); and grandchildren, Andria Camp and Cody and Kasey Cloud; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends; and her dog, Herkie. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A memorial celebration of her life will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 21 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 604 E. Street Galt, CA. The church can be reached at 209-745-1825.