Dorothy Maxine Strom Westling was born May 27, 1920, to John and Mary (Olson) Strom. She was raised on the family farm on the East side of Mille Lacs Lake, attended country school, and graduated from Aitkin High School in 1938. She married Donald W. Westling on October 9, 1938, at Opstead Baptist Church near Malmo. After marriage they lived in North Minneapolis and later Robbinsdale. Donald worked with his father in the family business, Westling Manufacturing, which Donald and Dorothy eventually purchased. In 1948, they built a summer home on Green Lake near Princeton, and in 1965, they moved to Golden Valley. They wintered for several years in Mesa, Arizona, moving there year round in 1994. As Donald’s health began to fail, they returned to Minnesota, moving to Northfield in 1998. Donald passed away on December 29, 2003.
Dorothy was an independent and self assured woman with a great sense of humor. In the 1950's, she received her pilot’s license and kept her float plane at Green Lake. She was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a life member and past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the 99's - a women’s organization founded by Amelia Earhart and 98 other female pilots, a former scout leader, PTA member, and part of the League of Women Voters. She loved to play the piano and accordion, and enjoyed flower gardening, knitting, crocheting and folk painting. As her children were growing, she was always very involved, doing her best to pass on to them the values of integrity and honesty.
Survivors include her children: Judy and husband Ken Rosebrock of Bath, Ohio, Jeanie Canfield of Northfield, John of Princeton; 7 grandchildren, Kirsten (Tom) Hayes, Heather (Dave) Rogers, Amy Canfield, Mark (Ildze) Canfield, Tom (Patti) Westling, Allyson (Travis) Leonard, Katie Westling; 9 great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Henry, Fiona, Charles, J.C., Benjamin, Riley, Sophie, Ruby; 3 nieces: Connie Crossman, Marjorie (Jerry) Dexheimer, Jan (Dave) Anderson; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her son-in-law Donald Canfield, and her sister Elsie Haglund.
Dorothy passed away with her family by her side on Saturday evening, December 5, 2009, at the Northfield Hospital, at the age of 89.
Funeral services will be 10:30AM Saturday, December 12, 2009, at the Chapel of the Northfield Retirement Community with Rev. Diane Goulson officiating. Music will be provided by J.C. Westling. Interment will be in Opstead Baptist Cemetery at Isle. Casket bearers will be Amy Canfield, Tom Westling, Mark Canfield, Kirsten Rosebrock, Allyson Leonard, Heather Rogers and Katie Westling. Visitation will be at the Retirement Center Chapel one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Northfield Retirement Center or Three Links Care Center.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.