Dorothy Mae Sorensen was born March 23, 1932, in River Falls, Wis., to Frank and Verna Inglis. A graduate of River Falls High School Class of 1950, she went on to attend Wisconsin State College in River Falls, Wis., earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1954. After graduation, she then moved to California and became a schoolteacher in Chula Vista. It was there that she met Charles Sorensen from Albert Lea, Minn., who was stationed in the Navy in San Diego. They moved back to the Midwest and were married in River Falls, Wis. on Aug. 20, 1955. They lived in St. Paul, Minn., where Chuck attended Hamline University and Dorothy resumed teaching in Mounds View. Her daughter, Julie, was born in 1959 and her son, Steven, was born in 1961. After a final move back to River Falls, Wis., Chuck and Dorothy raised their family and lived the rest of their lives as active members of the community.
Dorothy kept busy with Shriner’s Auxiliary, Tuesday Club and volunteered for the Hospital Auxiliary and Free Clinic. She was a lifelong member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ and until her death, was the oldest lifetime church member, having been baptized there in 1932.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Verna Inglis; and husband, Charles Sorensen. She is survived by daughter, Julie (Scott) Smeester, of White Bear Lake, Minn. and son, Steven, of St. Paul, Minn.; grandchildren, Sarah Smeester and Noah Smeester; and cousins, nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at First Congregational Church, 110 N. Third St., River Falls, Wis. with visitation beginning at noon. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, River Falls, Wis.
Memorials preferred to First Congregational Church UCC of River Falls, or to St. Croix Hospice.
Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
