Dorothy Brinkman

DOROTHY CHRISTINE BRINKMAN was born to Edward and Rose (Kroeger) Meier on June 26, 1922 in Tyler, Minnesota. She was raised on several farms near Ruthton, Minnesota where she also attended school. In 1939, she moved with her parents to Lake Benton, Minnesota. After her graduation from Lake Benton High School in 1940, she worked on a dairy farm near Tyler. In 1940, she moved to Pipestone, Minnesota and became employed as a waitress at the Coach Café in Pipestone. On October 1, 1944 she was united in marriage to Burdette Brinkman at the St. Paul Lutheran parsonage. Following their marriage, they lived in Pipestone until the spring of 1945 when they moved to Burdette’s brother’s farm. Then, in the fall of 1945, they moved to Ihlen, Minnesota, where Dorothy worked as the bookkeeper at the Pipestone Co-Op which later became known as Midland Oil. Burdette preceded her in death in May, 1967. After his death, Dorothy continued to live in Ihlen and worked for Midland Oil. In the fall of 1969, she became employed as the bookkeeper at M&M Distributing Company in Pipestone. During the fall of 1978, Dorothy moved back to Pipestone and continued to work at M&M until her retirement in 1985. She lived on her own until October of 2015, when she moved into Ridgeview Estates in Pipestone. Dorothy lived there until her declining health sent her to the Pipestone County Hospice House on August 24, 2018. Dorothy died peacefully at the Hospice House on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the age of 96 years, two months, and 27 days.

Dorothy was baptized on October of 1922 and confirmed on July 12, 1936 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. She was currently a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone where she was active in the WGA and the Sara Circle. For several years, she served as the secretary for the Endowment Board at the church. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and making quilts. She also enjoyed doing craft projects using plastic canvas.

She is lovingly remembered by her brother, Duane Meier of Shakopee, Minnesota; one sister, Laura Carter and her husband Roy of Slayton, Minnesota; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud; her parents, Edward and Rose; her brother, Elmer and his wife Alva; sister-in-law, Shirley; and her parents-in-law, Fred and Anna Brinkman.