DOTSETH, Ruth Laura (Goeke) (McMillan) 1922-2001

SHINDOLL, GOEKE, MCMILLAN, GILLESPIE, WELPER, ALDEN, URELL, SIMON, MILLER, DELATTE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/14/2003 at 11:19:20

MRS. JOHN "Tex" (Ruth Laura Goeke) DOTSETH

Waukon Standard newspaper - October 3, 2001

Ruth L. Dotseth, 78, of Waukon, died Wed., Sept. 26, 2001, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, following a brief illness.

Funeral services were held Sun., Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.

Ruth Laura Goeke Dotseth was born Nov. 7, 1922, in Waukon, the daughter of George and Gertrude (Shindoll) Goeke. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and attended elementary school in Ludlow Township. Later in her life, she became a certified x-ray technician.

Jan. 6, 1949, Ruth married James McMillan. They were later divorced. On Aug. 3, 1963 Ruth married John "Tex" Dotseth in Caledonia, MN. Ruth spent 50 years of service in the medical field, which began when she worked for D. J. McCullough and continued at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon Clinic, and the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Retirement came in March 2001.

When Ruth wasn't serving others, she spent her time crocheting many, many sweater sets for Veterans Memorial Hospital and Lutheran World Missions, or pursuing her passion for reading. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and the women's group. She also enjoyed bowling.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband John "Tex" of Waukon; four daughters, Donna Gillespie of Cresco, Nancy (Russell) Welper of Dorchester, Julie (Steven) Alden of Waukon, and Mary Anne McMillan (Joseph) Urell of Fountain City, WI; a son, David (Kathie) Simon of Broken Arrow, OK, 12 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter; two sisters, Lorna (Vernon) Miller of Postville and Karen DeLatte of Picayune, MS; and three brothers, Ronald Goeke of Guttenberg, Allen (Ella Mae) and Wesley (Carole) Goeke, all of Waukon.

Honorary casketbearers were Brandy, Matthew, Stephanie and Caithyn McMillan, Deanna Gillespie, Sara and Carrie Welper, Nathan Urell, Pamela Whitcomb, and Michelle Simon. Casketbearers were Russell Welper, Joe and Tyler Urell, Marshall and Steve Alden, and Stephen Gillespie.