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(Doni) Lorraine Dodgson was born during the Depression Era in 1929 in Fargo, North Dakota. She lived with her parents, Gordon and Agnes (Martin) Aurland, and her grandparents, John and Margaret (Campbell) Aurland, in Logan Center, North Dakota. She and her parents later moved to the Devils Lake, North Dakota area.
Doni grew up in a hard-working family, and she embodied that work ethic like no one else. She started the first grade when she was only three years old, and she took care of her younger siblings and the family home while her parents worked. In high school, she worked for Montgomery Wards. She started in the shoe department and quickly worked her way up to bookkeeper.
In 1946 Doni married Leonard Dodgson, whom she affectionately described as a “smart-ass sailor.” In 1949 their first child, Darrell, was born. Sadly, he passed away when he was seven months old. Their eldest daughter, Sandie, was born in 1950. Their second daughter, Linda, was born in 1951. Their son Scott was born in 1954, and their youngest son, Steve, was born in 1962. Their home was always full of laughter, which comes as no surprise to those who knew Doni and Leonard.
In 1956 Doni and Leonard moved to Jamestown, North Dakota. They began several businesses, including Dodgson Appliance, Colville-Dodgson Furniture, Pipestem Auto (the first Toyota dealership in town), Sportsman’s Shop, and Dodgson Appliance and Furniture Store. Doni was the bookkeeper for all of those businesses. After their retirement in 1994, they enjoyed their winters in Mesa, Arizona.
Doni and Leonard were extremely active in the community. They belonged to every dance club, snowmobile club, car racing club, and social club in town. They were also members of Trinity Lutheran church and the El Zagal Shrine. Community service was important to Doni and Leonard.
After Leonard passed in 2012, Doni acquired her beloved dog Nellie. Doni taught Nellie to dance, and they were constant companions for each other to the end.
Even while Doni was suffering with pain, she maintained her sense of humor and quick wit. Doni made everyone she met laugh, no matter the circumstances. There really has been no other lady like Doni. The expression “God broke the mold” has never been truer than in Doni’s case. She was simply the funniest, kindest, most loving, and classiest lady one could ever meet. She will be dearly missed every moment of every day.
Doni was preceded in death by her beloved husband Leonard; her precious son Darrell Gordon Dodgson; her mother Agnes Stevenson (Martin) Aurland/Colville; her father Gordon Campbell Aurland; her grandparents John Aurland, Margaret (Campbell) Aurland, James Martin, and Alma (Amundson) Martin; and her brother Richard Darnell Aurland.
Doni is survived by her sister Marjorie Eisenzimmer; her children Sandra Lee Off, Linda Marie (Ralph) Hallquist, L. Scott (Barb) Dodgson, and Steven Leroy (P.J.) Dodgson; her grandchildren Angela (Kirk) Davis, Amy (Clayton Otto) Strankowski, Amber (Jason) Hewson, Eric (Kathleen) Hallquist, Ryan Hallquist, Casey Dodgson, Christopher Dodgson, Carrie Dodgson, Tessa (Allias) Krohn, Andrew Dodgson, and Dylan Dodgson; 11 great-grandchildren; and her beloved dog Nellie.
The family thanks the wonderful nurses at Hospice in Jamestown, all of whom made this difficult process more bearable. The family is grateful that they could be by Doni’s side as she passed.
Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 31, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND, with Pastor Kristi Weber officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2016 at Williams Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Prayer Service: 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2016 at Williams Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Interment: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown.
An online guest book is available at www.liskofuneralchapel.com.