Dorothy Devens

At the age of 88, Dorothy Devens wrote her memoirs, which she simply called Memories, and it never ceased to amaze her that hundreds of people read and enjoyed her book. She kept a scrapbook of the notes and letters she received, each telling her how some small story in that book had rekindled the memory of something or someone in the readers' lives. Those of us who knew her and were touched by her life will remember her positive and optimistic view of life and its events. Dorothy Margret Schwendemann was born November 23, 1914, in Gordon, Nebraska, to Robert and Jenny Schwendemann. When she was six years old the family moved to a farm near Echols, Minnesota. She attended country school District #19, graduated from St. James High School in 1932, and Mankato Teacher's College in 1933. She came back to District #19 as the teacher in the one-room country school that every Devens, including her own children, attended. She also taught in District #8, but for most of her life she never lived more than a mile on either side of District #19. In 1938 she married Harold Devens, and they moved to the farm where they lived for the next 61 years. Her interests, activities and friends were many. She enjoyed life! She enjoyed oil painting and a variety of crafts, playing any card game (especially Bridge), travel and her family. She was active in Long Lake Lutheran Church and the neighborhood extension Chatter Club. She and Harold shared many memories with friends in Minnesota as well as the 15 winters they spent in Arizona. She moved to Prairie View Apartments nine years ago and enjoyed the many friendships and activities there before moving to Brandt Ridge when it opened, and to Pleasant View Good Samaritan a few months ago. She died peacefully on October 9, at the age of 93. She is survived by a daughter Gail (Eden Prairie, MN) and son Don and daughter-in-law Gail, (Houston, TX), grandchildren Chad and Nicole Devens, Brian and Emily Cassens, and Amber and Libby Devens, and three great-granchildren, Ellie, Chase, and Trenton. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Harold, daughter, Janice, and sister Wilma Roesler. She will live in our hearts forever.