Darlene "Dottie" Morton

Funeral Mass for Darlene J.  “Dottie” Morton, 84, of McKinley, will be 10am Thursday, November 9, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. David Forsman and Fr. Kristoffer McKusky as celebrants.  Visitation will be Wednesday 5-7pm at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert and will continue for one hour prior to the mass at church on Thursday.  Burial will be 12:00pm (noon) Friday in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery in Bluffton, Minnesota.

Dottie died peacefully surrounded by her family Sunday afternoon, November 5^th, 2023 at her home in McKinley.

She was born May 20, 1939, one of nine children to Henry and Gertrude (Geiser) Dykhoff in Wadena, Minnesota.  She was a graduate of Wadena High School and later married Robert Morton on September 18, 1961 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bluffton.  Dottie worked for a short time at Skalman Music Store in Wadena.  Later, they moved to Gilbert and began raising their family.  In the mid 1960’s  they moved to McKinley. There, she was a homemaker and volunteered at the Salvation Army in Virginia with special needs individuals which she enjoyed.

Dottie was a dedicated member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Biwabik and its Council of Catholic Women. Most recently, due to her health, she attended mass at St. Joseph’s in Gilbert.   In her earlier years, she was a catechism teacher in McKinley and 4-H leader.  Dottie enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking meals and baking apple and cottage cheese strudels.  She was a caretaker to many and built many lasting friendships.  She enjoyed a good joke, gardening, and refinishing antique furniture.  She always showed concern for others and prayed the rosary often.  Following Bob’s retirement, Dottie was an active participant in the SOAR meetings.

Survivors include her husband, Robert “Bob”; sons: Rod (Julie Stokes) of Lino Lakes and Mark (Debbie) Morton of Buhl; siblings: Gordon Dykhoff, Donald (Irene) Dykhoff, Patricia (Jerry) Anderson, Henry Jr. “Butch” (Katie) Dykhoff and Bradley Dykhoff; brother-in-law, Mark Holweg; sisters-in-law: Judy Dykhoff and Bev Dykhoff;  numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; her “little Angels”: Bella and Reed Today; many special family and friends including Dennis, Dzidra and Keith Shatava.

She is preceded in death by her daughters, Kathy and Vickie; parents: Henry and Gertrude; brothers, Joseph, Ken and Richard; sister, Joan Holweg; sisters-in-law, Bertha Dykhoff and Vanette Dykhoff