Dorothy Mae was born December 3, 1927, at home in rural Clarkfield, MN, to Rudolph and Ida (Lynne) Fousek along with her twin sister, Doris. She was baptized at the Bergen Lutheran Church, rural Clarkfield, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyd. She attended country school and graduated from Boyd High School.
On October 23, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Harris Lee at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyd. To this union, five children were born. They resided in Dawson/rural Dawson until 1955, when they moved to their current home in Dawson.
Dorothy kept busy as a homemaker to her five children and husband. Her skills included gardening, canning, baking, and sewing to help keep this active group fed and clothed. Daughters, Diane and Marilyn, still recall the special dresses their mom lovingly designed for them each holiday. As the children became older, she found time to work at the meat market in Dawson.
In the early family years, Dorothy enjoyed the numerous camping vacations taken that later gave way to many enjoyable years at the family lake cabin. Other hobbies included quiet nights at home reading, daily coffee with friends, spending time with her grandchildren, and traveling to various states after Harris' retirement. She was an active member in the VFW Auxiliary and the Dorothy Club.
Dorothy died suddenly on Monday, January 4, 1999, at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 71 years, 1 month, and 1 day.
She is survived by her husband, Harris Lee of Dawson; 3 sons: Raymond (Michele) of Hudson, WI, Roger (Kimberly) of Chanhassen, and James of San Francisco, CA; 2 daughters: Diane (Richard) Falk of Moorhead and Marilyn (Kevin) Bergeson of rural Dawson; 11 grandchildren: Scott, Sara, and Stacy Macziewski and Aric Falk, Jayann and Ryan Bergeson, Brandon and Rachel Lee, and Cassandra, Cayla, and Cari Lee; brother, Robert (Delarosa) Fousek of Hackensack, MN; sisters: Marcella (Harold) Sumner of rural Boyd, twin-sister, Doris Ashling of Marshall, Claire Ashling of Dawson, Ina (Lawrence) Olson of Dawson, Gloria (Richard) Saue of Montevideo, and Judy (Stan) Antolick of Benson; nieces and nelphews; and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and infant granddaughter, Cali Lenae Lee.