Dorothy M. Easter, 96 years old, passed over into eternal life on October, 15, 2019, surrounded by three of her children who spent the night with her. She was born May 22, 1923, in St. Cloud, MN to William and Serena Carlin and shared her birthday with her brother Hubert who was exactly five years older.

She grew up on the family farm near the small town of Clear Lake, MN, attending the one room school and traveling by horse in good weather or horse drawn sleigh in the snow.

Upon graduation she attended St. Cloud Teachers College, earned her teaching credentials and, following in her mother's footsteps, began teaching in Danvers, MN.  However, the thought of seeing new places and no snow was enticing and she soon found herself headed to Lakeside, CA to teach third grade.  How surprised she was arriving in San Diego and seeing as she puts it 'the streets lined with' . . .No, not palm trees but . . . 'sailors' a sight this young lady from the Midwest had never seen!  In time, one sailor in particular captured her heart.

She and Henry were married in 1948.  This Navy wife was now honored to follow her husband to new duty stations across the country.  Of course, the flip-side of these adventures was that she was also a temporary 'single parent' when the USN needed Henry to serve our country during World War II and the Korean War.  Henry's last duty station was San Diego where they bought a home in the suburb of La Mesa, CA and where they raised their growing family—eventually having eight little 'Easter' children, the last two being twin boys born when she was 40 years old.  She decided to stay home and raise her children which she did exceptionally well using her strong Catholic faith and Midwest values to mold her children and raise them 'in the way they should go'.

Mothering eight children brought with it the fun of watching numerous Little League and softball games, managing the concession stand at those events, being the on-demand taxi service, 'emergency' nurse for all those scraped knees and elbows, and entertainment director (before the advent of personal devices) with a simple, "if you are bored I can find something for you to do or you can go outside and play."  She also found time for some daring escapades not the least of which was para-sailing behind her oldest son's Dodge Challenger.  After Henry retired from the Navy and started his own plumbing business he took an entire month off every summer.  All ten of the Easters would pile into the oversized camper and towing the ski boat would travel back to Minnesota via Idaho and Oklahoma visiting relatives and friends along the way – and every one of those people was invited to visit us – so Dorothy was the best of hostesses!

As the kids grew up, moved away and while the twins were in their junior year of high school they decided to move to Prescott, AZ.  Eventually, as Henry's health problems increased, the need to move close to at least one of their kids became evident.  This found them buying a house across the street from daughter Mary and her husband in Lake City, MN.  After Henry's death in 2008, Dorothy moved to Rochester, MN where she lived until her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Serena Carlin, her brother Hubert and son Donald.  She is survived by her children, Pamela (William 'Bill') Beaulieu, William 'Bill' Easter, Alan (Kathy) Easter, Mary (Edward 'Ed') LaBrash, Rita (Gerard 'Jerry') Lawlor, Brian (Sharon) Easter, and Barry (Tracy) Easter, 27 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

We, her children, extend our most heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Madonna Towers where she resided for nine years after Dad's death, and Madonna Meadows where she lived the last nearly two years of her life.  Because of your loving and exceptional care, kindness, compassion and humor each of us were relieved beyond words to know we did not have to worry about her.  In fact, we know for certain what you did so well for her not only extended her life but also brought her comfort and joy.  Thank you!

In gratitude, may we suggest memorials to the Madonna Living Community ( https://secure.bhshealth.org/giving/0018 or 4001 19 ^th Avenue NW, Rochester, MN 55901) so that other's loved ones may benefit from those same things as our Mother received.

Dorothy's funeral will be celebrated on Friday, November 8, 2019, at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City, MN, as follows:  9:45 AM Rosary, 10:00 AM Visitation, 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial.