Dorothy V. Brakke — Rochester

Funeral services for Dorothy V. Brakke, 98, of Rochester, who passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2013, peacefully at her home following a short illness, will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Gregory Heidorn officiating, Monday, July 1, at 1 p.m.

Visitation at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 30, and one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Dorothy was born to Julius and Clara (Jensen) Tvedt in Byron on June 12, 1915. She attended Byron school. On Dorothy's first date with Norman Brakke, Norman asked her to marry him. He said he had been admiring her from afar. She accepted. They were married Sept. 9, 1939, in Kasson. She and Norman lived in Rochester from 1939 to 1976. They moved to Longville, after Norm retired and lived there until returning to Rochester in 1992. She has resided at Realife since 1993.

Dorothy loved listening to the Twins and Viking games, listening to old-time music and dancing, collecting cookbooks, doing word search and crossword puzzles. Dorothy excelled at cooking and baking. She and her husband were charter members of Grace Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Lydia Circle. Dorothy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Survivors include eight daughters, Donna (Allen) Gulbransen of Litchfield, Louise Sweeney, Marcia Bjork, Debra (Allen) Kvittem, and Bonnie (Mark) Espy all of Rochester, Mary Lou (Larry) Lutz of Grand Forks, N.D., June (Earl) Hart of Byron, and Beverly (Salvador) Antuna of Greeley, Colo.; a son, Paul (Colleen) of Spokane, Wash.; 22 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Tvedt and Helen LaBare both of Rochester.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman on July 20, 2002; two sons-in-law, Don Bjork and Pat Sweeney; one grandson and one granddaughter (Gulbransen twins), and one great-granddaughter, Josephine Maier.

Memorials may be designated to Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place N.W., Rochester, MN 55901. 507-289-3600 ranfranzandvinefh.com