Dorothy Kathleen Eleanor Raisanen, age 93, of Cokato, Minnesota, went home to Jesus on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the Cokato Manor.
She was born in Litchfield, MN, to Hilda and Charles Tormanen. She was the second to the youngest and had four brothers and ten sisters. She was baptized and confirmed in the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. As a child, she and her brothers and sisters kept busy with many activities such as cricket, softball, May-day basket hanging, sliding and ice skating in the winter and also sitting around the pot belly stove playing games. Her hobbies included reading, baking, and pulling taffy with friends and family.
She started school in the Swan Lake Country School with grades 1-8 in the 1930s. Because of her enthusiasm for learning and many friends, the three-mile walk to school didn’t seem so bad; however, when she arrived at school, water and wood needed to be carried in by students. She continued with her education and graduated from Cokato High School in 1947.
Following high school, Dorothy began secretarial work in Minneapolis and continued there for four years. On May 26, 1951, Dorothy married Niilo Raisanen at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. They started their life together in West Albion at the “round barn farm”, then lived in Lester Prairie and eventually moved to Cokato in 1967. They had eight children and enjoyed taking vacations, going on hikes, camping, and biking with their children. Dorothy was always so grateful that she and Niilo were blessed with a large family because they brought them so much joy. Dorothy and Niilo were married for almost 59 years before Niilo passed away on February 10, 2010.
Dorothy continued to be an active mom and grandma even after Niilo died. She enjoyed seven years at Edgewood and called all of her neighbors her friends.
Dorothy was a prolific baker and cook and prepared many meals over the years. She had the gift of hospitality and made everyone feel welcome and loved in their home. She started her gracious hospitality by cooking two hot meals a day for the hired men who worked on the farm when they were first married. She also served visiting ministers and their wives, and many other friends and family. Dorothy loved visiting her children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and so many friends.
Dorothy’s faith in Jesus, commitment to the Grace Apostles Lutheran Church, her big beautiful family, and her many friends blessed her in innumerable ways.
Dorothy is survived by her seven children, David (Karen), Keith (Heidi), Nancy Mattila, Mary (Jay) Piepenburg, Michael (Tracey), Mark (Michelle), and Katie (Luke) Bonawitz; 47 grandchildren; 127 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Robert Torola, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her baby son Charlie, her husband Niilo, her son-in-law, Gary Mattila, her great-granddaughter, Adeline Dorothy, and all of her siblings and their spouses.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 with visitation 1 hour prior. Visitation from 5-7 PM on Monday, June 26, 2023 with a 6:30 prayer service, all at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church (5939 Oliver Ave SW, Cokato, MN 55321). Arrangements by, Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534
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