Dorothy Ohm

Dorothy L. Ohm, age 95 of Rochester, MN died Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth. Dorothy Luella Tillotson was born August 24, 1922 in New Haven Township, Olmsted County to Charles and Ella Mae (Leavitt) Tillotson. She was raised and attended country school near Douglas, MN and graduated from eighth grade. She suffered the loss of her father at eight years old and her mother by the age of fourteen and being the oldest child in 1935, she was sent to live with a foster family as a hired girl, while her five younger siblings were placed in the Minnesota State Public School (orphanage) in Owatonna, MN and became wards of the state. This was a popular county welfare practice at the time, due to the Depression and in spite of relatives wishes to keep the children together. Her youngest sister was placed with a doctor and his wife after her mother's death. Dorothy was unaware of her siblings where-abouts, until over seven years later, when connections were slowly re-established. She eventually moved to Rochester and was employed by Dr. and Mrs. John Emmett. She united in marriage to Alvin F. Ohm, Sr. on January 16, 1943 at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. they resided in Rochester for a short time and then began farming in the rural Elgin area. Later they farmed in the rural Dover -Eyota area until settling in rural Plainview where they continued to farm and raise eight children. Alvin passed away March 25, 1975 due to complications from accidental burn on January 7th that year and she continued to operate and live on the farm with help from her sons, brother-in-laws and neighbors until April 1988, when she moved to her new home in Rochester where she resided until moving to Samaritan Bethany in 2013. She was mainly a homemaker, but was also employed at Lakeside Foods in Plainview, Holiday Inn Downtown, Fiksdal Hotel and did babysitting for a neighbor for about three years. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, bird feeding and bird watching (Hummingbirds and Orioles being a favorite), cooking and cooking shows, HGTV, Wheel of Fortune, the Travel Channel and daily news programs, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was especially fond of the almost yearly family reunions with her siblings and their families, which began in 1961. Dorothy is survived by two daughters, Diane (Milton) Hoffman of Rochester, Janice (Jerry) Schultz of Preston, MN and six sons, David, Dennis, Alvin Jr. (Wynne), John and William of Rochester and Daniel (Deb) of Plainview; grandchildren, Peter Houghtelin of Chatfield, Brian (Alison) Ohm of Winona, MN, Neil Ohm of Rochester and Katie and Christopher Ohm of Plainview, MN; great-grandsons, Brad (Kelsey) Royce, Brady, Brandon, Braydon, Braylon, Brandt, and Henry; great-great-granddaughter, Brooklyn Rose Ellsworth; and one brother, James Tillotson Alexandra, MN; brother-in-law, Orville Pioske of LeSuer, MN; sister-in-laws, Irene (Fred) Ohm of Rochester, Gladys (William) Herrly of International Falls, MN; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alvin; brothers, William (Gladys) Herrly of International Falls, MN; Wesley and his wife (Dorothy) Swenson of Moorhead, MN and sisters, Doris Jean (Orville) Pioske of LeSuer, MN, Helen Corcoran of Monticello, MN, Ruth and husband (Harold) Wees of Salt Lake City, UT and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Season's Hospice or Samaritan Bethany on Eighth. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit: www.ranfranzandvinefh.com Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600