Dorothy Prax

Obituary

Dorothy was born on a farm south of Olivia, Minnesota, to Lester and Sophronia (Klemenhagen) Ferguson on April 22, 1931. Her father died of a ruptured appendix on March 17, 1931, so she never knew her dad. His death left her mother a widow with five children and eight months pregnant. Life was not easy for the young family.

The family moved into Olivia and she lived in town until the age of 12 when her mother remarried. She had gone through the 6^th grade in the Olivia Public School. When her mother remarried the family moved to a farm north of Danube. She finished her education at Danube, graduating from Danube High School in 1949.

After high school she worked at Renville-Sibley Electric Co-operative from 1949 until she married Robert Prax on June 23, 1956.  The couple was married at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Fairfax. They enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage, prior to Bob’s passing away on January 17, 2016. They were blessed with four children who they were fortunate enough to raise in Fairfax.

Dorothy held various jobs during her working years. Beginning with the Electric Co-op. Next was the bakery in Fairfax, Prax’s Red Owl, in partnership with her husband, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, St. Andrew’s School and a dental office, retiring in 1993.

During their retirement years, Bob and Dorothy spent winters in warmer climates, including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Rockport, Texas, and mostly in Salome, Arizona. They enjoyed many years of motorcycling during the spring, summer and fall months. She always enjoyed her family, often wishing they lived closer. She especially enjoyed Christmas when the whole family would gather at her house, and the many events that took place in the screenhouse in her backyard.

Dorothy was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Fairfax for many years and was a member of the CCW and Christian Mother’s organizations, having served as an officer of both. She also sang in the church choir for many years and was involved in other church activities. She was a member of the Fairfax American Legion Auxiliary since 1958, the Danube Historical Society and the Renville County Museum. She was greatly interested in any happenings concerning Fairfax and often voiced her opinion.

Dorothy passed away on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 91 years. Blessed be her memory.

Dorothy is survived by her:
Children,           Jim Prax of Fairfax, MN,
                        Thomas (Sue) Prax of Fairfax, MN,
                        Katie (Mitch) Maurer of Benson, MN, and
                        Karen (Mike) Langer of Cross Lake, MN;
Grandchildren, Andrew (Heidi) Maurer of Moorhead, MN, Garrett (Audra) Maurer of Moorhead, MN, Zachary (Maia) Maurer of Bloomington, MN, Alissa Maurer of Benson, MN, Ashley (John) Roiland of Watertown, MN, Bryce (Jenny) Prax of Stanchfield, MN, Jennifer (Jason) Bents of Bemidji, MN, Michelle (Bryan) Foss of Arden Hills, MN, and Tom (Chelsea) Langer of Minneapolis, MN;
Great-grandchildren, Lizzie and Charlie Maurer, Bella, Myles, Wenzel and Nora Foss, Ellie and Savannah Prax, Madelyn, Margaret and Griffin Maurer; with one more on the way.
She was also Godmother to four daughters through the Sacrament of Baptism, Dianne Prax Armstrong, Lisa Palmer Herrold, Lisa Fahey Bleick, and Natalie Boyum Frank;
Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her Husband, Robert Prax; Brothers, Harold, Kenneth, and Ray; Dale Ferguson in infancy; Sisters, Ruth Hoppe Brown and Marian Gunderson.