In Loving Memory of Dorothy Ellen “Dottie” Norris
Dorothy Ellen (Neuenfeldt) Norris, 83 of Minneapolis, MN, passed away on April 10, 2019.
Always called “Dottie,” she was born on April 21, 1935, the third daughter of Lorena Mae (Swick) Neuenfeldt and Ernst Fredrick Neuenfeldt on the family farm at Ripon, WI on Co. KK. She grew up on the farm and attended Osborn School and graduated from Ripon High School.
At age 14, Dottie contracted polio and spent 2 months in the hospital. Polio caused the loss of the use of her legs, and she had to learn to walk again.
This may have given Dottie her outlook on life – to learn and live in, “What is” and not, “What if’.” She received a degree in nursing from Fond du Lac and served as Director of Nursing at Ripon College for 31 years, retiring in 2000. After her retirement she lived independently in Yuma AZ for many years before moving to Minneapolis where her family was able to help care for her.
She was married three times; to James C. Prellwitz, Lawrence Sommers, and Jerry Norris. She is survived her three children, Michael (Susan Haas) Sommers, Cindy Sommers (Berlin), and William (Jeannie) Sommers (Pennsylvania), sister, Marjorie Lind of Berlin and brother, Ernst Ray (Ida) Neuenfeldt of Ripon, grandchildren Kathryn (Adrian Malloy) Sommers, Bonnie (Chris) Budelier, Alma, Zoe (Ben), and Noah Sommers Haas, Maxwell, Bianca and Olivia Sommers, nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Carol Wilcox, her brother, Fredrick Neuenfeldt and her son, Mark.
Special Thanks to her caregivers at Hometown Senior Living in the Twin Cities.
A memorial service will be held later at Nepeuskun Cemetery near Berlin, WI.