Dorothy Mary Goodell was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 11, 1927 the daughter of Eugene and Clara (Marcotte) Tourville. She attended a country school near Hugo, Minnesota. Her family moved to a farm near Amery, Wisconsin where she attended another country school (Balsam Branch) near Kennedy's Mill. Dorothy went on to attend the Balsam Lake High School. When she was 16 years old her, she and her parents picked up a soldier who was hitchhiking home during World War II. Dorothy gave him her address and they began corresponding. After the war, Harry "Pete" Goodell returned home. After a courtship the two were married in October of 1945. They made their home in Danbury, Wisconsin and three children were born: Cynthia, Sandra and Roger. In 1950 her husband Pete was killed in a logging accident near Dairyland, Wisconsin. After a few years Dorothy moved with her children to Amery, Wisconsin to be near her parents. In 1955 she married Oscar Fredrickson, but after nine years they were divorced.
In 1963 Dorothy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She lived at Crestview Plaza nursing home for many years and then transferred to Lakeland Nursing Home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to be near her family.
Dorothy loved nature, especially birds. She could identify most of the birds just by their song. She loved watching Brewer Baseball and a highlight for her was attending a game in Milwaukee to see them play in person. She was also an avid Packer fan and watched them on television.
Before losing her ability to walk Dorothy loved to dance and enjoyed going to Strait 8 on Saturday nights for the live music and dancing. Dorothy was a devout Catholic and regularly attended mass at the nursing home. Her inner strength, wonderful sense of humor and faith were truly an inspiration to all who knew her. Dorothy died at the Lakeland Nursing Home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on Monday, May 23, 2011 at the age of 84 years.
Her parents , husband Pete, and seven year old sister Sylvia preceded her in death. She is survived by her three children: Cindy (Jesse) Tye of Solon Springs; Sandy (Len) Warland of Ferryville, and Roger Goodell of Ferryville; grandchildren: Paula, Tony, Jamie, Stanley, Tracey and Roger James and 13 great grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery with Deacon Bud Heiser officiating. Interment will be at the Danbury Cemetery in Danbury, Wisconsin.