Obituary of Dorothy Amundson

Dorothy Amundson, age 91, of Prior Lake, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died April 25, 2020. Born in 1928 near Alberta, MN to Earl and Lillian Cook, she grew up a farm girl during the Great Depression. From a very early age she helped do whatever needed to be done. She collected wood and picked up corn cobs for the kitchen stove; kept the water pail filled from the outside pump; gathered eggs, fed and watered the chickens and pigs, and milked the cows.

An exceptional student, Dorothy attended the Alberta Consolidated Schools graduating in 1946 as valedictorian of her class. In 1950, she received a BA cum laude in education from Hamline University in St. Paul. After graduating, she taught high school English and was the librarian in Prescott, WI. In addition to teaching, she directed class plays, supervised declamation activities, advised the yearbook staff, and served as senior class advisor.

Dorothy met Carrol/Pink Amundson, her future husband and love of her life, in first grade. They married in 1951 and had five children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Married over 68 years, Dorothy and Carrol lived on Mushtown Road across from Carl’s Lake for over forty years. There Dorothy joined Carrol in his hobbies of beekeeping, gardening and traveling the world. She enjoyed genealogy and writing and helped produce extensive histories for three branches of the family. For her children and grandchildren, Dorothy wrote life stories of both Carrol and herself, humorous and insightful poetry, and was a published author. She was an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction. Not one to shy away from a challenge, the athletically-limited intellectual was also a sports writer for the Prior Lake American.

Engaging with family and friends was Dorothy’s top priority. She was a stay-at-home mom who always answered the call to serve. She was a room mother at her children’s schools, a Girl Scout/Brownie leader and a Campfire/Bluebird leader. She had fun fashioning homemade costumes and planning intricate kids’ parties. She happily hosted Norwegian “Kompon/Klubb” parties and wiener roasts for her extended family. Easygoing and good-natured, she made jam with, played Wonder Woman with and even caught a snake(!) for her grandchildren. In her later years, she delighted in the antics of her great-grandchildren and relished long telephone conversations with her adult children, relatives and many friends.

Dorothy and Carrol moved to McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake in 2013 and found it to be a wonderful fit for their interests and personalities. Though a natural introvert, she felt called to befriend everyone she met. They made many friends and served as ambassadors for new residents.

Dorothy was a committed, progressive Christian, a thoughtful optimist, and a longtime active member of Lydia Zion United Methodist Church near Jordan, MN. She taught adult Sunday school classes for several years, served as a lay delegate to the denomination’s annual conference, and was Lydia Zion’s first female lay leader. Ever the peacemaker, this self-described, “flaming-moderate” Democrat had a loving, warm, and accepting spirit that embraced people of all colors, creeds, political affiliations, and/or orientations. Her life, above all, adhered to the Gospel of Jesus’ Love.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Wendy Amundson, her parents, and her 8 siblings: Paul (Catherine) Cook, Eva (Jack) Jones,

Ray Cook, Robert (Laurine) Cook, Hazel (Laurence) Fynboh, Lucille (Orlyn) Cin, Helen Cook, and Ruth Cook.

She is survived by husband, Carrol, children: Robin (Brad) Holmgren of Portland, OR; Jay (Terra) Amundson of Atlantic, Iowa; Sue Amundson (David Largaespada) of Mounds View; Jill (Gerry) Winter of Burnsville; by grandchildren: Joe (Kristen) Holmgren, Alyssa (Matt) Craigie, Aaron (Laura) Amundson, Sam, Anton, and Nathan Largaespada; by great-grandchildren: Fred Holmgren, Abigail and Elliot Amundson, Lillian and Olin Carrol Craigie, and by two sisters-in-law: Pearl Amundson of Edina and Deanie Amundson of Idaho and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to Groundswell Cafe/Matthew 25 201 3rd Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, www.hub25.org. A celebration of life is postponed until a later date.