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Dorothy Grathwohl

Dorothy Grathwohl

FRIDLEY — Dorothy Elaine Grathwohl of Fridley, Minn., died Tuesday, May 26, 2020, after a brief illness. She wanted no memorials. Just offer a kind word, a charitable gesture or simply a smile the next time you encounter someone of her generation. She would like that.

Dorothy will return to Fairmont be buried next to husband Elmer when conditions allow her family to gather, celebrate her life and bid her a proper farewell.

She was born May 11, 1927, in Garfield, Minn., to Reverend John and Lydia Malkow. Dorothy’s family moved to Wilbert in 1940, when her father became pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1945 and married Elmer Grathwohl in 1946. They resided in the rural Fairmont area for many years before moving to the Waseca area and, ultimately, to Mesa, Ariz. She lived there until 2006, before returning to Minnesota to be nearer to family.

Dorothy enjoyed reading, her daily crossword puzzle and watching her favorite sports on TV. She was a diehard Twins fan and believed that every year would be 1991 all over again with just another pitcher or two. Her golfing days ended when she left Arizona but she remained a fan and avidly followed on TV. While physically slowed in recent years, she was sharp as ever, keenly inquisitive and actively followed current events. Fortunately, she had no “smart TV” to hear some of her biting commentary.

Dorothy is survived by her sister, Carolyn Malkow of Lompoc, Calif.; son, John Grathwohl (Sue Hamre) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., daughters, Mary Wahl of New Brighton, Minn., Ann Grathwohl of Wasilla, Alaska; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer; sister, Rose Ann Malkow; brother, Reverend John Malkow and wife Delores; sisters, Florence (Harold) Eversman, and Vivian (Roy) Week.

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