On the beautiful sunny morning of Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, Dorothy M. Kaasa, 94, of North Mankato had the honor of meeting Jesus.

A memorial service is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary and will resume Tuesday one hour prior to the visitation. Interment of Dorothy and Melvin will be at Clarks Grove Cemetery in Clarks Grove on Tuesday after the service.

Dorothy was born Feb. 5, 1924, in Bancroft Township to Harry and Adena (Jacobson) Nelson. She grew up with two brothers, Phillip and Harold; and two older sisters, Edena Jensen and Florence Hanson. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1944.

Dorothy and Melvin T. Kaasa married Nov. 18, 1944, in San Diego while Melvin was serving in the Navy during World War II. They started their family in Minnesota and lived in the Twin Cities, Waseca, Winona and Worthington before settling in Lake Crystal.

Dorothy was a homemaker and she proudly worked as a postal clerk at Lake Crystal Post Office until she retired Feb. 14, 1986.

Dorothy was an active member of Crossview Covenant Church and religion was very important to her.

She enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting and large family get-togethers. Dorothy’s family will always fondly remember her as Aunt Dodo. Dorothy knitted many sweaters for church charities and mittens, hats and scarves for her grandchildren. She also volunteered, packing food for church charities. She was an avid bowler. Dorothy enjoyed traveling and she and Melvin enjoyed many years as snowbirds in New Braunfels, Texas.

Dorothy is survived by son, Tom Kaasa (Lynda Tilander); daughter, Kristi Burtzel (Bill Ruhland); grandchildren Joshua (Angela) Ward, Rebecca (Lawrence) Simmons, Rachel (Byron) Gunter, Jason Burtzel and Lisa Burtzel (Jason Danberry); and great-grandchildren Henry Simmons, Nora Simmons, Charles Simmons, Emmerson Gunter, Jackson Gunter and Olivia Ward.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin “Bud;” and siblings.