November 24, 1928 ~ April 8, 2025 (age 96)
Dorothy Baethke, age 96, of Riceville, IA, died on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, surrounded by her family at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center.
A Private Family Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church. Dorothy will be buried next to her husband, Orville, at the Saratoga Township Cemetery.
In Memory of Dorothy, memorials may be sent to Howard County Community Hospice 235 8th Ave W Cresco, IA 52136.
Dorothy Mae Beck was born on November 24, 1928, in Murdock, MN, daughter of John and Nellie (Petersen) Beck. After graduating from high school, Dorothy attended Normal Training to receive her teaching certificate. She taught at a country school for a couple years. On November 19, 1948, Dorothy married Orville William Frederick Baethke at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. In 1950, the couple bought a farm near Elma, IA, where they farmed and raised their family. Dorothy was an active farm wife who could be found doing anything from driving the tractor, feeding the chickens, or meticulously keeping up on the farm ledgers. Dorothy loved dancing with Orville at the local dance halls, listening to Polka music, and she could always be found singing. She made the best chocolate chip cookies and kept her mind and hands busy with quilting and sewing, gifting quilts to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. While wintering in Arizona with Orville, she made many quilts for missions and continued mission quilting until she entered the nursing home in 2023. Dorothy radiated an energy that drew children to her. At the nursing home Dorothy would ask, “Where did Snickelfritz go?”, when referring to the staff’s children or a resident’s grandchild.
Dorothy is survived by her 3 children Rick (Carol) Baethke of Lime Springs, IA, Susan (Ron) Norman of Lime Springs, IA, and David (Diane) Baethke of Elma, IA; 10 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Orville in 2008, granddaughter Bobbi Jo Alstat, 2 brothers Don Beck and Dale (Shirley) Beck.
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