Dorothy Marie Dahlquist

PEQUOT LAKES - Dorothy Marie (Beal) Dahlquist, age 94, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2005, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at the Christ Community Church, Nisswa, the Rev. Jim Rogers to officiate. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at Willim-St. Onge Family Funeral Home in Pequot Lakes, with a prayer service at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Frank Milo, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Pequot Lakes, to officiate.

There also will be one hour prior visitation at the church on Tuesday. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at Lakeview Cemetery in Aitkin. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Pequot Lakes Senior Citizen Center.

Dorothy Marie Usher was born on July 13, 1911, in Aitkin, the daughter of Albert and Elsie (Zerby) Usher. After receiving her primary education, Dorothy went on to take normal teachers training and taught for a while thereafter, before her marriage. She married Ray Beal on May 31, 1936, in Aitkin. Dorothy had worked for many years for the Gambles Store located in Aitkin. Her husband, Ray, passed away on March 31, 1968. After Ray's death and as young widows, Dorothy and her sister-in-law Mabel Beal went into business together providing a lunch counter for the factory workers at the Land O' Lakes turkey plant. On April 6, 1977, in Sisseton, S.D., Dorothy married Eugene Dahlquist and moved to the Pequot Lakes area. While in Pequot Lakes, Dorothy was very active in her community, especially the Senior Citizens Center where she had served as president and vice president. She was a charter member of the Christ Community Church in Nisswa. Her husband, Eugene, passed away in July of 1991.

At age 60, she taught herself how to play the organ and gave away many organs to those in need of one. There were many things that made Dorothy a remarkable woman and contributed to her longevity, her ability to not let things bother her for too long and most of all her optimistic outlook on life. Dorothy enjoyed traveling all over the world, making new friends and in her younger years camping out.

Survivors include: her daughter, Linda Davis and husband Gary, Brainerd; three sons, Allan Beal, Pequot Lakes, Curt Beal and wife Linda, Minneapolis, and Ross Beal and wife Paula, Fairbanks, Alaska; step-son Eugene Dahlquist Jr. and family, Brighton, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Her parents; husbands; sister, Marion DeHaven; and grandchildren, Barry and Erin, preceded her in death.