Dorothy Zinter Willard

Dorothy was born September 3, 1917 on a farm in Mamre Township north of Willmar Minnesota to parents Otelia (Thorson) and Albert Pederson. She grew up in Spicer and Raymond, Minnesota communities, was baptized at the Zion Irving Lutheran Church near Hawick and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Raymond. Dorothy attended Raymond School and graduated in 1936. She met Ervin Zinter while waitressing at Lutchen’s Café in Raymond and they were married on September 16, 1939 at St. John’s Lutheran parsonage. The couple moved frequently as Ervin was transferred and promoted to Roadmaster with the Great Northern Railroad.

Dorothy’s first husband Ervin was killed in a train explosion near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, January 9, 1947. Dorothy and their four children moved to Willmar, Minnesota to be near family. For many years she worked as a cook at the Willmar Senior High School.

On June 19, 1975 Dorothy married Merle Willard of Colton, South Dakota at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. After living in Willmar a few months they decided to move to Colton to be near the homestead where Merle was raised. They enjoyed spending time with family and made many trips visiting the 12 children between the two of them. Merle passed away November 30, 1984. Dorothy became a resident of Colton Assisted Living in June of 2008, where she died on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the age of 93.

Dorothy was well known for her faith in God, her warm smile and her generous hospitality with wonderful meals. She was a long time and faithful member of Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar, Minnesota and First Lutheran Church in Colton, South Dakota.

Grateful for having shared her life are her loving children and step children; Gary (Betty) Zinter of Silver Bay, MN; Al (Jean) Zinter of Owatonna, MN; Jan (Jim) Willard of Colton; Erv (Pam) Zinter of Plymouth, MN, Jim (Jan) Willard of Colton; Roger (Sherri) Willard of Colton; Linda (Les) Corporon of Dougherty, IA; Carole (Glenn) Ungerer of Swisher, IA; David (Kathy) Willard of Waverly, IA; Robert (RoseMary) Willard of Renner; Daniel Willard of Cedar Rapids, IA; Mark (Carlotta) Willard of Lake Odessa, MI; twenty grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren. Also surviving is sister in law, Beulah VanBockern and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Ervin, her husband, Merle, her parents and her brother Russell.

Visitation will be on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Colton from 6-8:00 PM. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Monday, May 30, 2011 at First Lutheran Church, Colton. Burial will be in the Oakleaf Cemetery in Hutchinson, Minnesota.