Obituary of Dorothy Hofstad

Dorothy M. Hofstad, of Cambridge, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 5, at GracePointe Crossing Gables East. She was 88 years old. Dorothy Marie Steen was born on May 20, 1922, the eldest of four children, to Sem and Amy Steen, in Clinton , MN. She attended school in Clinton, graduating Valedictorian from Clinton High School in 1940. Dorothy was extremely studious and also participated in numerous school activities and 4-H. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and graduated as a Registered Nurse from St Olaf-Fairview School of Nursing in 1945. She then attended the University of Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education. Dorothy married Russell Benjamin Hofstad on September 6, 1947 in Clinton. The couple then moved to Cambridge, MN, where Russell had established a dental practice. She worked at the Red Cross Blood Bank and also had several private duty cases. In 1948, Dorothy became Head Nurse at Braham Hospital in Braham, MN. From 1950 to 1967, Dorothy stayed home to raise four daughters. She took great interest in her daughters' activities and spent many a sleepless night at the sewing machine creating matching outfits and costumes. During this time, she was an active volunteer with the Red Cross, and served on the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Board, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and numerous activities with Cambridge schools and Cambridge Lutheran Church. Dorothy was employed from 1967 to 1998 by Cambridge Clinic as a Registered Nurse. Throughout those years, she held a variety of positions which included service to clinics in Braham and Rush City. Well after her retirement, she was diligent in keeping her nursing license current and continued to provide volunteer nursing services in the community. Dorothy loved cooking and entertaining family and friends, traveling with husband Russ, attending the activities of her grandchildren, listening to choral and orchestral music - especially the St Olaf Choir, and anything Norwegian. She took great interest in people and had a strong need to help others. She was always there to lend a sympathetic ear, and provide a hot dish or a good dessert. She was an active member of Cambridge Lutheran Church and enjoyed singing with the Prime Time Singers, serving on various committees, and participating in church and community events. Dorothy could always be counted upon for a story, and she will be greatly missed for her wit, wisdom, disarming humor, and remarkable memory. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband Russ, brother-in-law Raymond Loy and brother-in-law Merle Hofstad. She is survived by daughters Ann Merkouris, of Isanti, MN, Mary (Gerald) Vein, of Grand Forks, ND, Susan Hofstad, Of Cambridge, and Patricia Hofstad (Thomas Bach) of Bloomington, MN; grandchildren James Merkouris, Michael (Tamara) Merkouris, Eric (Simone) Hermes, Andrew (Jenna) Hermes, David and Amy Vein, and Charles and Davis Bach; sisters Ruth (Rogers) Hauck of Denver, CO, and Sylvia Loy, of Benson, MN, brother Sevrin (Patricia) Steen, of Clinton, MN; brother-in-law Ronald (Norma) Hofstad, of Clements, MN; several nieces and nephews; and countless friends.