Erma Dotzenrod

Erma M. Dotzenrod, 88, Wyndmere, ND, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2008 at St. Catherine’s Living Center, Wahpeton, ND. A memorial service will be held at Wyndmere Lutheran Church , Saturday, September 27, at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Jack Carlson officiating. Visitation with Erma’s family will be Friday, at Wyndmere Lutheran Church from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 7 PM prayer service, and one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be held at Elk Creek Cemetery , Wyndmere.

Erma was born August 19, 1920, the seventh of fourteenth children to William and Marie (Krueger) Feistner in Woonsocket , SD. At the age of 14 she moved with her family to Howard , SD , where she graduated from high school. She received her teaching certificate from General Beadle at Madison , SD. She taught elementary school in Montana , near Camp Crook , SD and later at Bakersfield , CA . In California she met a dashing Navy man from the North Dakota who loved poetry; she married this special man, Ralph C. Dotzenrod, on December 23, 1945. The couple moved to Wyndmere , ND after Ralph was honorably discharged from the service. In 1960 she started the kindergarten program in Wyndmere, which was later brought into the Wyndmere School System where she taught a generation of Wyndmere students. Erma later completed her Bachelors Degree from Concordia College in Moorhead . She also taught piano lessons to many students in the Wyndmere area. After her husband Ralph died October 13, 1988, Erma continued to live in Wyndmere until October of 2007 when she entered St. Catherine’s Living Center, Wahpeton, ND.

Erma was an active member of Wyndmere Lutheran Church , serving as the church historian, teaching Sunday school and helping with the ladies aid. She was involved and kept the scrap book for the FM Opera and was a member of the Legion Auxiliary. Erma’s passion in life was music; she played the piano, accordion and organ. She also enjoyed gardening, traveling and graphic arts. She will be remembered by her family as a mother that cherished and cultivated in others a colorful, artistic and musical side of life.

Erma is survived by her four sons and two daughters: James Dotzenrod, Wyndmere; Marjorie (Charles) Masek, Plant City, Florida; Dan (Rose) Dotzenrod, Wyndmere; William “Ed” Dotzenrod, Wyndmere; Patricia (Dave) Polasky, Fosston, MN; and Steven (Ruth) Dotzenrod, Ankeny, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 3 step grandsons, four great grandchildren; three step great grandson; three sisters: Frieda Hanson, Agnes O’ Neal, Gladys Myers, and her brother, Martin Feistner, all of Madison, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph C. Dotzenrod, nine brothers and sisters, her daughter-in-law, LuAnn Dotzenrod, and her grandson, Paul Polasky.

Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, is in charge of arrangements .