Dorothy Thoe, 98, of Fordville, ND passed away April 23rd, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Home in Park River. She was the oldest of 7 children born to Aletta and Palmer Madson of rural Niagara, ND on Sept 5th, 1925. Dorothy attended country school and graduated high school in 1943 from Orr, ND. She went on to attend Business School in Grand Forks and Mayville College after which she taught school near Dahlen and in Wheatfield Township.
Dorothy met and married Gene Thoe of rural Fordville in 1947 and became a very busy farm wife. She was an active member of the Fordville Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, participated in ladies aid, quilting and was a past president. She also was involved in Fordville community’s celebrations, an EMT for the Fordville Ambulance Service, and transported special needs students in the area to and from schools in Grafton, Midway, and Larimore.
Dorothy served as the President of the Walsh County Fair and was known for her many ribbons including potato peeling contests she won as well as being voted Walsh County Farm Woman of the Year. After the loss of her husband in 1977, she attended Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks, MN studying Home Décor and Design to further her home-based upholstery business. Dorothy never turned down a challenge.
As many know, one of Dorothy’s most enjoyable accomplishments in life was taking part in the sport of curling. As member of both the Fordville and Grafton Curling clubs, she and her local teammates won many bonspiels earning them the title North Dakota State Women’s Curling Champions in 1971. Curling took her to many places including Minnesota, Alaska, Wisconsin, New York and after being chosen as one of the members to represent U.S. Women’s Curling Association, she traveled to Scotland in 1986.
She is survived by her daughter Barbara Hoffmann, Grafton; Son Randy Thoe, Fordville; Grandsons: Neil(Sheri) Hoffmann, McCanna, Chris(Cari Johnson) Hoffmann, Grand Forks, & Sean(Krysta) Hoffmann, Cavalier; 4 Great-Grandchildren: Justin, Eric, Gillian and Casper, Sister Geneva Flaaskog; sisters-in-law: Avis Madson, Sylvia Madson, & Janet Madson as well as several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Gene, brothers: Ronald, James, Paul, & Gerald Madson, sister Vivian Behm, sister-in-law Viola Madson and son-in-law Kenneth Hoffmann.
A visitation will be held Monday April, 29th, 6:00p.m. at Elk Valley Church, McCanna, ND with a family service to follow at 7. Funeral services will be held Tuesday April 30th, 10:30a.m. at Elk Valley Church with visitation 1 hour prior.
There will be a reception meal at the church following the service with interment to be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, Fordville, North Dakota once the meal concludes.
BAKKE-CASEMENT FUNERAL HOME, FORDVILLE, ND
Online guestbook: www.bakkefuneralhomes.com