Dolly A. Talbert

Dolly A. [Oaks] Talbert was born on February 6, 1938, to Lewis, Sr. and Alice (Menike) Oaks in Aitkin, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm in West Libby Township, north of Palisade, Minnesota, where she attended country school until attending and graduating from Aitkin High School. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Palisade. She furthered her education at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota, graduating with a degree in vocal and instrumental music. Her passion for music became a career with her first teaching position in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Later, she taught in Rush City, Pine City, and Belgrade, all in Minnesota prior to teaching her last 23 years in the Luverne Public Schools. On September 4, 1970, Dolly was united in marriage to Donald Talbert in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after an earlier divorce. Together they raised an amazing son, Stewart. The couple settled in Luverne where she taught and officially retired in 1993, though she never ceased her dedication to music and the education of others. She continued to forge new relationships with other musicians through various musical collaborations. Her husband, Don, passed away in August, 2008, and music became her “life”, as she continued to reside in their home. Here, she privately gave piano lessons for many years. She also maintained contact with students by serving as an accompanist for choirs and vocal and instrumental soloists at Luverne and Hills Beaver Creek public schools. Another joy for her was reading to classes in the elementary school in Luverne.

During her teaching career Dolly was a member of several professional organizations: LEA, MEA, NEA, MMEA, MENC, and ACDA. In 1989, Dolly received the “Teacher of the Year Award” from LEA; the “Minnesota Choral Director of the Year Award” from Minnesota Music Educators Association in 1992; “Friend of Education Award” from LEA in 2000; and most recently, in 2019, she was awarded the “ACE Award” from ACDA. She served as chairperson of the Music Department in Luverne for many years; served as section leader for the Minnesota All State Women’s Choir for two years and served as adjudicator for large-group and solo-ensemble contests throughout the state for a number of years. Dolly rang in the Community Handbell Choir, under the direction of Sue Feltman; accompanied the Opland Singers in Pipestone, Minnesota for several years; directed a Luverne Community Choir for a Christmas Cantata performance for two years; directed the choir for the Luverne All-School Reunion for two different years and the choir for the Luverne Quasquicentennial Celebration. She also had fun directing and accompanying a group of male colleagues, “The Has Beens”, for several years, until her retirement. Dolly was a member of the Pink Ladies and served on the Medical Home Patient Advisory Committee at Luverne Sanford Hospital. She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. There, she served as director of the Folk and Chancel Choirs, and two handbell choirs, Deacon, and on the Call Committee, member of the Music/Worship Committee, helped with planning of worship services and was Chairperson for Grace’s Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. She has served as pianist for Saturday evening worship services for many years, and has directed and accompanied the Exaltation Worship Team for a number of years. She has written several hymns, composing the music for lyrics written by Rev. Norman P. Olsen, Rev. Dell Sanderson, and Rev. Maurice Hagen. Dolly and Don enjoyed traveling. So while they were teaching and Stewart was a youngster they would hitch up their travel trailer and visit many places throughout the United States, each summer taking them to a different area of the country. In the fall of 1977 they purchased a lot on Lake Shetek and began the task of preparing the lot for a building. Together, with Don’s expertise and good directions, the three of them built a cabin, starting in the summer of 1978. Thus, summer travel ceased while they worked diligently on construction, outside and inside. By 1984 the cabin was pretty much completed, just in time for them to host an exchange student from Switzerland, during the 1983-84 school year. After Dolly’s retirement in 1993, the couple took many bus tours, always to places they hadn’t been. This became a pleasure for them and Dolly continued to go on bus tours after Don’s passing. She especially liked the “Mystery Tours”, having no idea where she would be going and enjoying every part of the mystery! Family was very important to Dolly and her grandchildren, Ariana and Hayden, were her pride and joy. She had lots of fun making up new games for them, reading to them, and taking them on treasure hunts as she watched them grow.

On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Dolly passed away at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota, at the age of 85 years, four months and one day.

Dolly will be lovingly remembered by her son, Stewart and his wife, Jennifer, of Lake City, Minnesota; two grandchildren, Ariana and Hayden; a sister, Diane Lande of Wheaton, Minnesota; a brother, Robert Oaks of Palisade; many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Talbert; a sister, Norma Jean LeRoy; a brother, Lewis Oaks, Jr.; and her parents, Lewis and Alice Oaks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church or Sanford Luverne Hospice.