Dorthy Hartel

Dorthy Hartel, age 83, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Wednesday, September 18th, at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 27th, at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastor Seth Johnson and Pastor Jane Ekholm officiating. Interment will be in Brandsvold Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Thursday, September 26th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Dorthy Marie Young was born on June 19, 1941, in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Walter and Esther (Brusven) Young. She grew up on a farm in rural Beaulieu Township with her parents and five sisters. She went to country school near her home before attending Mahnomen High School. After leaving school, Dorthy continued to help her mom and dad on the farm before moving to Mahnomen with her sister, Norma. There, Dorthy worked at Edna Grocery Store and the Mahnomen bank.

Dorthy married the love of her life, Gary Hartel, on July 22, 1967. The two worked hard together on their home and farm in Brandsvold Township, near McIntosh. Dorthy handled much of the bookkeeping for the farm in addition to milking cows, raising livestock, and helping with the field work. She also worked at First National Bank in McIntosh until having children. While the children were younger, she served as Secretary Treasurer of the East Polk County Farm Bureau Board. 

She later completed her education, earning her G.E.D. and then professional certification as a trained medication aide. She began working at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine to be closer to her mother, who was a resident there in 2001. Caring for others during her twelve years at Pioneer was deeply meaningful to her. 

Dorthy had many talents and gifts. She was an expert gardener; she refinished antique furniture; she designed and sewed many of her own outfits (and even got accepted to fashion school); she raised and sold Chihuahua dogs; she played the trumpet and sang beautifully; and she discovered a love of writing in her later years. One of her greatest gifts was being a grandmother, and her grandchildren brought her great joy. 

Her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was central to her life, and she shared that faith in many ways. She studied the Bible, taught Sunday School, and loved singing in the church choir. She possessed a powerful yet graceful alto voice, and she could harmonize with others naturally – both in song and in life. Even though her memory faded, she never forgot the words to any of her favorite hymns. She loved her children very much and would sing for them when they visited. Her voice now joins a new choir, and though she will be dearly missed, those who knew her can rejoice for her. 

Survivors include her loving husband of 57 years, Gary, of McIntosh, MN; daughter, Lana (Dean) Hansen of Sartell, MN; son, Wade Hartel (fiancée, Juliette) of Omaha, NE; two grandchildren: Lauren Hansen and Dylan Hansen; two sisters: Norma (Darrel) Rinkenberger of Fosston, MN and LoAnn (Darol “Spike”) DelGrande of Hibbing, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and their husbands: Judy and Marvin Sorgaard, Marlys and Albert “Pete” Scheff, and Cheryl and Gary Hamre.