Dorothy Alice Desens

April 2, 1914 - February 20, 2015

Dorothy Alice Desens, age 100, of Litchfield, died Friday, February 20, 2015, at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Rev. James Panning officiating. The interment will be held at the Ripley Cemetery following the service. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Litchfield. The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Dorothy Alice (Lemke) Desens, the daughter of August and Marie (Koerner) Lemke, was born on April 2, 1914, in Litchfield, Minnesota. Dorothy grew up on the family farm near Litchfield and graduated from the Litchfield High School. Upon graduating from high school, she attended beauty school. Dorothy was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was presently a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Litchfield. She was a dedicated church organist for over 50 years. Dorothy was united in marriage to Arthur Erhardt Desens; together they made their home on the family farm and raised their three sons. She was employed as a hair dresser for several years. She loved music and enjoyed playing organ, piano and guitar. She taught numerous children to play piano and guitar over the years. Dorothy enjoyed singing, even singing songs in German. She enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed spending the holidays with them. Dorothy will be missed by her family and her friends. She is survived by her son, Marlyn (Helen) Desens of St. Louis Park, two grandsons, Arthur Jason Desens and Derek (Rachael) Desens, one great grandson, Sebastian Ronald Desens, siblings, Ted Lemke of St. Cloud, and Rose Stegner of Monticello, daughters-in-law, Mindy Desens of Litchfield, and Karen Desens of Roseville, goddaughter, Anna Mae Wigen, as well as many nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur, sister Bertha (Byrdie), two sons, Ronald Desens and Dave Desens, and her parents.