Dorothy L. Christen

Friday, October 2, 2015 5:31 pm

Dorothy L. Christen, 77, of Wadena, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union. Visitation is Friday, Oct. 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Illyria Community Church, rural Elgin, and one hour before services at the church Saturday. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Illyria Community Church, rural Elgin, with Pastor Pam Reinig as the officiant. Burial is in the Illyria Cemetery, rural Elgin. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, is helping the family with the arrangements.

Dorothy Louise, the daughter of Arnold and Mabel (Evanson) Stegen, was born Dec. 24, 1937, on a farm near Decorah. She attended country schools in Winneshiek County and graduated from Decorah High School in 1956. Dorothy was united in marriage with Jim Kingsley June 16, 1956. The couple farmed in Winneshiek County for a few years before moving to a farm near Volga. After Jim’s death in 1982, Dorothy was united in marriage with Dave Christen July 25, 1986. Dorothy worked in the upholstery business in Volga and Wadena for over 20 years. Dorothy served as a firefighter in Wadena for 21 years and as a first responder for 32 years. She was very active in the Wadena American Legion Auxiliary, the Midwest Tool Collectors Association, and held various offices for the National and Iowa Blacksmith and Welders Association Auxiliary. She was a member of the Illyria Community Church, Ladies Aid and CHI-ANEDAW. Dorothy never let anyone in pain or sorrow go without, any help she could give. Although she was unable to have children, she was a mother to her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many foster children, loving them all as her own. She also loved to take pictures as long as she wasn’t in them.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Dave, of Wadena; her son, Shane (Bobbie) Christen of Red Wing, Minn.; two grandchildren, Myra and Willie; Lesleigh Miller of Lapeer, Mich., who was like a daughter to Dorothy; two sisters, Lavonne Bussey of Sacramento, Calif. and Arla Schmidt of Fayette; one brother, Arlan (Lois) Stegen of Cedar Rapids; three sisters-in-law: Helen Stegen of Waukon, Evie Kingsley of Bluffton and Marlene Welch of Waukon; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; two brothers who died as children, Kenny and Kenneth; two brothers, Lyle and Ronnie Stegen; and her brother-in-law, Jerry Kingsley.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials in Dorothy’s honor, may be sent to the Illyria Cemetery Association, PO Box 201, Elgin, Iowa 52141.