Dorathea T. Limke, 103, Carpio, died Friday, July 6, 2012, at A and P Adult Foster Care Home in Minot.
Dorathea Theresia Koetter was born July 3, 1909, on the family farm near Lansford, the oldest of six children to Herman and Theresia (Klosterman) Koetter. Dorathea helped raise her younger siblings and attended School #3 in Van Buren Township, Renville County. She also helped on the family farm and hired out to area farm wives doing housework and cooking.
Dorathea married Charley Limke on June 23, 1931, at St. Henry's Catholic Church, rural Foxholm. They farmed in the Lansford area until the fall of 1938 when they moved to Donnybrook, where they farmed for a few years. In 1942 they moved to the Pete Hall farm south of Carpio. In 1947 they moved to the Dew farm one mile north of Carpio, where they farmed and raised their family.
In 1959 they purchased the business in Carpio which became known as Limke's Bar, which they owned and operated until 1974. Dorathea continued to work on the farm, milking cows and helping with the field work.
Her husband Charley died on Dec. 26, 1990. Following his death she moved to Minot, and in 2007 she moved back to the farm at Carpio. She recently entered A and P Adult Foster Care Home in Minot where she lived until her death.
Dorathea was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Donnybrook and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot. She loved her family and was always there supporting her children and grandchildren in all their sporting events. She enjoyed gardening and in later years she took up crocheting and made several afghans for her children and grandchildren.
Those who shared in Dorathea's life: son, LeRoy Limke, Carpio; daughters, Leona Knower, Lakeville, Minn., Betty Goettle, of Donnybrook and Idaho, and Ardell (John "Bill") Skaufel, Burnsville, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Margaret Limke, Minot; 23 grandchildren; numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Cecilia Zeltinger, Minot, and Veronica Moen, Riverton, Wyo.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Charley; son, Lawrence "Larry" Limke; sons-in-law, Charles Knower and Dale Goettle; daughters-in-law, Ruby Limke and Carol Limke; grandchildren, Mark Goettle, Jeff Limke and Pat Skaufel; grandson-in-law, Kenny Savelkoul; great-grandchildren, baby Lawson, Jason Laughren Jr., and baby Limke-Carlson; her parents, Herman and Theresia; infant brother, Joseph, and brother, Cornelius Koetter; and sister, Mary Grant.
Funeral: Wednesday, July 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.
Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation and vigil service: Visitation Tuesday, July 10, from 2 to 7 p.m., with a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Those wishing to sign the online guest register or share memories of Dorathea may access the online obituaries at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
