Patricia J. Dotseth

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 2:45 pm

Patricia J. Dotseth, 82, of rural Decorah, died Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at her home. Funeral services were Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends called from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Honorary casket bearers were Lee and Shirley Vangness, Norman and Darlene Dickman, Bob and Sadie Searsland, David and Mary Lou Sorum, and the Birthday Club. Casket bearers were Eric, Jarad, and Zachary Dotseth, Jeff Wheeler and Trent, Trace and Tom Miene. Online condolences may be left at martinfunerals.com.

Patricia Jane Dotseth was born Jan. 23, 1934, the family farm near Luana. She was the daughter of Fred and Frances (Gilson) Miene. Pat was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville, and graduated from Luana High School in 1952. While in school, she won the state speech contest in Mason City, which she traveled to by train with her coach. After graduation, Pat worked on her family’s farm, raising hogs and chickens. Then at Dreamland Ballroom in Postville, she met Robert Dotseth and the couple later married April 21, 1957, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The couple farmed together on Bob’s family farm, where they have lived ever since. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and was active in their women’s group and circle. Pat also belonged to the Post Franklin Study Club and the Birthday Club. Pat excelled at cooking and baking and as a side business for decades, baked wedding and birthday cakes and pastries. For holidays with the family, her pecan pies were a must-have. When she was younger, Pat was the runner-up in a cooking contest at the Iowa State Fair. She did so much baking, she could recall recipes and ingredients without using a cookbook or card, down to the minutest details, and loved sharing them with people. Pat loved sewing and gardening, and did a lot of canning. She also enjoyed going on car cruises around the area with Bob. Pat loved her family, grandchildren and friends.

Pat is survived by Bob, her husband of 59 years, of rural Decorah; two sons, Eric (Becky) Dotseth of Burlington and Bill (Linda) Dotseth of Decorah; four grandchildren: Jarad Dotseth of Ankeny, Allison Dotseth of Decorah, Hannah Dotseth of Ankeny and Zachary Dotseth of Burlington; her sister Erma Jean Swenson of Luana; four sisters-in-law: Karla, Karen, and Sharon Miene and Jean Wheeler; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Harold, Willard and Wayne Miene; a nephew Keith Miene; a niece Sandra Ehrhardt; and three brothers-in-law: Norman Wheeler, Marlin Swenson and John “Tex” (Ruth) Dotseth.