Ruth Geraldine Dorn

The last of a family generation, and long, full life came to a close on April 16, 2026 as Ruth Dorn of Cass Lake, Minnesota passed away at the age 99 at Sanford Health Neilson Place in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 24th at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the funeral at Pine Grove Cemetery in Cass Lake, with fellowship to follow, returning to the church.

Ruth Geraldine Dorn was born October 2, 1926 to Frank McDonald and Jennie (Hovd) McDonald in Whitefish, Montana. The family remained in Whitefish and Ruth graduated from Whitefish High School. Upon graduation, Ruth enrolled at Eastern Washington College, College of Education, in Cheney, Washington, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Education on June 8, 1948.

As a young girl, Ruth would travel from Montana to visit her grandmother who owned a boarding house in Cass Lake. It was during one of these visits that she caught the eye of Donald Dorn. Ruth and Donald were married in Kalispell, Montana, on August 27, 1950. After their marriage, Ruth moved to Cass Lake, where she was employed at the Cass Lake Elementary School as a fifth-grade teacher. After taking a five year leave to raise their son, Ruth returned to Cass Lake Elementary where she was a fourth-grade teacher, ultimately retiring on May 23, 1986 after over 32 years of service.

Ruth and Donald were married for over 60 years and made their home living on the shores of Cass Lake and later, Grace Lake in northern Minnesota. Ruth loved the sunsets and seeing the full moon rise across the water.

Retirement didn’t mean slowing down, as Ruth and Donald enjoyed traveling to various places around the globe. Ruth also volunteered at the Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, Minnesota for over 20 years, working on the floors delivering mail, menus, and flowers to the patients. She especially loved seeing the newborns. Ruth was a member of the Minnesota Order of the Eastern Star, and a Charter Member of the Cass Lake Lioness Club, which later joined with the Cass Lake Lions Club. She held various local and regional positions within each organization, frequently traveling to meetings across Minnesota.

Ruth was also deeply involved in other activities in the Cass Lake area, some of which included Minnesota’s Tree to DC, the Chippewa Triathlon, and the construction of Dream Catcher Park. If it was a volunteer civic event, Ruth was likely to be there.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Donald Dorn, father Frank McDonald, mother Jennie (Hovd) McDonald, infant brother Ralph McDonald, brother Fay McDonald, sister Clara (Wihlborg) McDonald as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her son John Dorn, daughter-in-law Teri (Moore) Dorn, and the absolute twinkle in her eye, granddaughter Avery Dorn.

Casket bearers will be Rodger Wihlborg, Neil Peterson, Tim Meyers, Dan Brasgalla, Ardean Brasgalla, and Neil Ramsey, Honorary casket bearers, present or not, include members of the Cass Lake Lioness and Lions Clubs, and the Cass Lake teachers with whom she worked.

Ruth loved visitors and the family wishes to thank all of the friends that would stop by, likely with coffee and cookies always being available. They would also like to thank the many caregivers working at Windsong and Neilson Place, with a special thanks going to Jim Detschman, Mary Barnard, and Teresa Renn (and family) for their years of incredible friendship and kindness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people send memorials to The Jimmy V Cancer Foundation, The Trinity Lutheran Church of Cass Lake, Minnesota, or a charitable organization of their choosing.

Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service, serving Northern Minnesota assisted the family in making service arrangements.

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