Dorothy Louise Deutchman, 85, of Windom, MN, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her family at her side.
A memorial service will be held at Windom Methodist Church in Windom on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Dorothy’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program. Interment will be at a later date at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
Dorothy Louise Deutchman was born on December 1, 1939, in Mountain Lake, MN, to Abraham and Mathilda Duerksen of Delft, MN. Dorothy grew up in Delft, MN, in a close-knit Christian family with eight siblings and graduated from Mountain Lake High School in May, 1958.
After graduation, Dorothy joined her life in marriage with Ernest (Ernie) Deutchman on October 4, 1958. They were married at the United Methodist Church in Windom, MN, and shared 61 years together as husband and wife. Dorothy and Ernie began their life together on a farm north of Windom in the Delft area. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Terry and Todd.
As a young mother and wife, Dorothy worked to raise her children and support her husband on the family farm by Delft. As a family, they enjoyed traveling to places like the Teton Mountains, California, Arizona, Seattle, and Duluth, MN. Eventually, Dorothy worked outside the home at Fingerhut and Toro in Windom. Dorothy made lifelong friends at these jobs, and they enjoyed spending time together bowling, playing cards, and having coffee.
In 1991, Dorothy was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and eventually sought treatment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she received a peripheral stem cell transplant in 1994. After the successful transplant, Dorothy achieved remission for the rest of her life.
While in the remission, Dorothy spent her days following Jesus, serving others, and loving her family and those she cared about. She was an active member of the Windom Assembly of God Church and served in any capacity she could. Dorothy’s servant heart was evident in everything she did, and she modeled this behavior for her family. Their four grandchildren were the apples of her eye, and she cherished the time they spent together. She passed on her love of sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking, puzzling, and the outdoors to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and always led them in the way of Christ.
Dorothy and Ernie lovingly and meticulously cared for their home and farm until Dorothy suffered a stroke, and they moved to Remick Ridge Apartments in Windom, MN, in 2018. After Ernie’s passing, Dorothy eventually moved to the home of her son, Todd and daughter-in-law Darla north of Windom.
On December 20, 2024, Dorothy was at home surrounded by her family when she took her last earthly breath and met Jesus face to face. Her kind heart and loving spirit carries on in the lives of those Dorothy knew and loved.
Dorothy is survived by two sons; Terry (Elaine) Deutchman of Windom, and Todd (Darla) Deutchman of Windom; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, Erin (John) Anderson of Nicollet, MN, Joel (Stephanie) Deutchman and children Troy, Tesla, and Ezra of Heron Lake, MN; Rose (Scott) Batterman and children Parker and Adeline of Cokato, MN, Teresa (Eric) Wells of Coon Rapids, MN; sister Nina Huff of Florida; brother Melvin Duerksen of Windom; brother Kenny Duerksen of Heron Lake, MN; and many other nieces, nephews, and relatives.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Abraham and Mathilda Duerksen; husband, Ernest; brother and sister-in-law Merle and Muriel Duerksen; sister and brother-in-law Verlette and Vernon Taber; brother and sister-in-law Ray and Mary Jo Duerksen; brother and sister-in-law Milton (Tex) and Georgine Duerksen and nephew Chad Duerksen; sister and brother-in-law Lorraine and Roland Frey; and other cousins and relatives.
