Dorothy Eckstrom

Dorothy Eckstrom, age 89 of Twin Cities, MN, formerly of Milaca passed away peacefully on November 25, 2019.

Dorothy was born on the 16th of April in 1930. There were 7 children born into the Van Dalen family, and Dorothy was number 5. Her Dad was hoping for a little boy. He though so much of Theodore Roosevelt, and “Theodore” was the chosen name. Well, much to his surprise, this darling little girl arrived. He decided her name would be Theodora!  That lasted just so long, and the day arrived when little Theodora decided that “Dorothy” was going to be her name.

Dorothy’s family moved to a farm in Pease, Minnesota a short time after Dorothy was born. She attended grade school in Pease, and high school in Milaca, MN. While in high school she loved playing basketball. After graduation, Dorothy worked for a sewing company for a time, but within a short time, she met the love of her life, Raymond, who also lived on a nearby farm.

Raymond and Dorothy enjoyed ice skating, movies, etc., and the day arrived when they thought… “Let’s get married!!” … And that’s just what they did! On July 24th, 1949, they were wed in Minneapolis in their pastor’s home, with family present. They eloped!

Dorothy and Raymond were blessed with 6 children. Unfortunately, they lost a little girl, but their remaining 5 children, two sons and three daughters, blessed them with 14 Grandchildren and 4 Great-grandchildren! What beautiful blessings! Among those 14 Grandchildren, there are two sets of Twins!

In 1993 Raymond passed away and in 2001, Dorothy decided to leave the bitter winters of the north for Sunny Arizona! She has traveled throughout the States and has enjoyed a trip to Hawaii! She is involved in volunteer work making quilts, knits and simply loves to sew. When asked what she loves most in life, her “family” is number one, and a close second is “sewing”! She was a former longtime employee of the Northwestern Casket Company, specializing as a seamstress.

Preceded in death by parents; baby daughter, Cheryl Ann; husband, Raymond; 4 siblings: Nicholas Van Dalen, Mary Larson, Henrietta Miles, William Van Dalen. Survived by 5 children:  Gerald, Ed (Jan), Patricia Mantovani; Joann Damawand; Lynn (Jim) McClure; 14 grandchildren:  Jessica Mosher, Jeremy Eckstrom, Gina (Lucas) Koenig, Kim Frank (Britt Morgan), Jason Binczik, Amanda Mantovani (Dominic Heim), Anthony (Lacey) Mantovani, Jamie Eckstrom, Benjamin Eckstrom, Kelsey Eckstrom, Eliahd Damawand, Sohrab (Kayla) Damawand, Thomas Ashfeld, Amber Ashfeld; 4 great-grandchildren:  Cedric Mantovani, Sean Duncan, Izabella Damawand, Farrah Koenig; Siblings, John Van Dalen and Sylvia Ledeen; numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Celebration of Her Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 3 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 N. Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN.  Family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m., until time of service.  Interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Dorothy is a Doll!  God Bless her.