DOROTHY ANN LEONA KOENS, age 89, of Luverne, died June 20, 2017 at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne, under the loving care of their staff and Sanford Hospice, where she resided for the last three years. She was born February 28, 1928, to Roy H. and Florence G. (Peper) Gonnerman. Dorothy was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1946; and worked as an usher at the Palace Theater and Roy’s and Long’s Duba’s Café during high school. After graduation, Dorothy worked at the First National Bank in Luverne and then Marquette National Bank in Minneapolis. She returned to Luverne to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone.
Dorothy was united in marriage to George Koens on June 3, 1951, in Luverne. After their marriage, they moved to a farm by Garretson, SD, followed by a farm in Springwater Township for two years. They raised their family in the Hills and Beaver Creek areas until 1973, and then they purchased a farm near Hardwick. In 1986, the couple moved to Luverne and Dorothy worked at the Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home for three years and later at the Heritage House for ten years. She retired and moved to the Centennial apartments in 2008.

She attended Trinity and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills and taught Bible School, Sunday School, and the Ladies Aid. She was a talented seamstress, and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and loved gardening.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Richard Koens, St. Louis Park; and Linda (James) Barnhart, Woodbury; four grandchildren, Rebecca (Ryan Sauers) Koens, Dana Koens, Ryan (Nicole) Barnhart and Kathleen (Peter Kenyon) Barnhart; two great grandchildren, Kylee Sauers and Harlow Barnhart; two sisters, Ruth McClure, Luverne; Marlis (Les) Kleinke, St. Cloud; one brother, Marvin (Margaret) Gonnerman, Luverne; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George in 2013; and two brothers LeRoy and Douglas Gonnerman.

Memorial Service will be 10:30 AM Saturday July 8, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, officiated by Pastor Gary Klatt. A time of fellowship will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial of cremains will be at the Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. 

Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, in Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.

To view an online obituary or order flowers, please visit dingmannandsons.com

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