Dorothy Fossell

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Friday at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be at 11 a.m. Sunday in the Forest Home Cemetery in Buyck.

Dorothy LeMay (Christopherson) Fossell, 82, of Aurora, died Thursday, July 11th 2024 at the Essentia Health-Northern Pines Care Center. 

She was born March 26th, 1942 to Roy and Emma (Feltman) Christopherson at the Cook Community Hospital. Dorothy grew up and attended elementary school in Buyck, MN. She then attended high school in Orr, MN, graduating in 1960. Following graduation, she moved to Chicago, IL for a year where she worked for Sears Roebuck. She then moved back to Minnesota and started working for Cluett Peabody Shirt & Pajamas Factory in Eveleth, MN. On January 22, 1966 she became an old man’s sweetheart (better than a young man’s slave) and married Vernon Fossell at the Crane Lake Chapel. They moved to Aurora, MN where they raised their 5 children.

Dorothy enjoyed wearing many, many “hats” volunteering in her community: delivering Meals On Wheels; a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Aurora 241 holding the title of Post President; a member of the VFW Auxiliary 8144 of Hoyt Lakes holding titles President, Senior Vice President, Secretary, Chaplain, Trustee, Poppy Chairman, POW MIA Chairman, “No Bake Sale” Chairman; a member of the Women of the Moose holding titles Senior Regent, Junior Regent, Junior Graduate Regent, and Recorder; a member of the Bluebell Rebekah Lodge holding titles Vice Grand, Post Nobel Grand, Secretary, Treasurer; a member of the Minnesota Rebekah Association holding the title of Secretary, Assistant Inside Guardian, Assistant Outside Guardian, Assembly Page, Assembly Soloist; President of American Cancer Society of St. Louis County East District 15; Daffodil Chairman, including Door to Door Crusade; a member of Aurora Senior Citizen’s Club holding titles President and Secretary; a member of the Minnesota Senior Federation - Iron Range Region; a member of SOAR (Steelworkers Organization for Active Retirees); a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church, part of the Ad Board and Interchurch Ministries; a member of the Red Hat Hot Flashers of Eveleth. All her volunteering in the community was recognized when she was selected to be the Grand Marshal for Aurora in 2007. She was also an enthusiastic percussionist playing in the Aurora - Hoyt Lakes City Band and the Contemporary Church Band.

Dorothy is survived by her 5 children: Vincent (Mary) Fossell of Hoyt Lakes, MN, Renee Roue of Hamilton, ND, twins: Brenda Fossell of Aurora, MN and Bruce (Ann) Fossell of Shakopee, MN, and Darwin (Jen) Fossell of Hibbing, MN; brother: Robert (Karin) Christopherson of Gilbert, MN; 13 grandchildren: Brittany (Jake) Reinesch, Jenna Fossell, Kailey Fossell, Alexa Fossell, Ashley Fossell, Michael (Emily) Roue, Rachel (Ryan) Honl, Brian Roue, Jonathan Roue, McKenzie Fossell, McKane Fossell, Jennifer (Bryan) Olson, Parker Fossell; and 5 great-grandchildren: Tayden, Wesley, Addi, Henry, Brynleigh.

 She is preceded in death by her husband: Vernon, her parents: Roy and Emma, her in-laws: Julius and Estella, and 4 grandchildren: Daniel Alexander, Rebecca Renee, Matthew Jared, and Aaron Benjamin Roue.