October 2, 1937 – Monday, August 14, 2017
Service Information
Buffalo Evangelical Covenant Church-Buffalo, MN
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017
2:00 P.M.
Visitation Information
Buffalo Evangelical Covenant Church-Buffalo, MN
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017
12:30 till time of services
Dorothy Lorraine Sorheim, age 79, of Buffalo, Minnesota, died surrounded by her family on August 14, 2017, after battling frontotemporal dementia.
Dorothy was born October 2, 1937, to James J. and Mildred Irene Formanek in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1955. While in high school she was introduced by a friend to Richard Dale Sorheim, whom she would marry three years later, on March 9, 1957, upon his return from the army.
After the birth of their first daughter, Lori Ann, in 1958, they moved to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Two sons were born there. Daniel Richard, in 1960 and Paul Andrew in 1961. In 1968 they moved to their home in Buffalo, as Richard had purchased Buffalo Block in 1965. Their daughter, Julie Lynn, was born in 1972.
In addition to being a wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker, Dorothy involved herself in a variety of activities using her artistic talents. She was an advertising designer for the Farmers Union, then later designed advertising layouts for Buffalo Block and Buffalo Hardware to be published in the Wright County Journal Press.
She volunteered her time to paint sets for church plays and several of the local community theater productions, created table favors for the local Christian Women’s Club, helped with seasonal decorating of the sanctuary of Buffalo Covenant Church, and became involved in a local art club for many years during which she painted numerous beautiful oil paintings. Later, she used her talents and love of people to teach art classes at a local nursing home. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, helped with VBS and Sunday School, and helped serve in the Ebenezer nursing home café.
Dorothy enjoyed gardening both at home and their lake cabin near Annandale. She also loved animals. Whether she was feeding the squirrels and rabbits outside her back door, playing with their family dogs, or riding her horses at the stable, she enjoyed all God’s creations.
Dorothy cherished and greatly appreciated her family and many friends and kept them faithfully in her prayers.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Elaine Hossalla; her brother, Jim Formanek; her half-brother, George Sabol; and her parents.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Richard Sorheim; children Lori Ann, Daniel Richard, Paul Andrew, Julie Lynn, and their spouses; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and her half-brother, Jim Bastyr.