Dorothy M. Bruder, age 101, of Wells and Mapleton, MN, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at Auburn Manor in Chaska, MN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church with a Rosary at 10:00 AM. Father Eugene Stenzel will officiate and burial will be in St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery in Wells, MN.

Dorothy was born September 9, 1908, in Currie, MN, the daughter of John and Angeline (Caron) Lingen. In her early years, she worked as a maid and cook in the Twin Cities. Later she worked as a midwife to friends in southern Minnesota, where she met George Bruder from Wells. They married in August of 1940. George and Dorothy raised 7 children on a farm 10 miles north of Wells. The couple moved to St. James in 1956. Dorothy worked for several restaurants as a cook in St. James, and also worked in a food processing plant for several years. In 1964, the couple moved to Mapleton, MN, where they managed the VFW club. Dorothy is a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. After George died Sept. 12, 1982, she moved to Chaska to be near her children. She was a person filled with a lot of energy, compassion and love. Dorothy was a true people person. She was always there to lend a hand for anyone in need. She was strong in her faith and passed her values on to her family. Family was important to her and she enjoyed all who came to visit and reminisce. Spending time at Tom and Pat’s cabin was a highlight in her life. She loved fishing, gardening and cooking. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and crytograms, playing cards and Rumicube. Dorothy’s memory was remarkable. She was a family historian, a true matriarch of the Bruder family. There wasn’t a name, birthday, anniversary or special event that she did not know about. Dorothy was a classy woman who taught her family about life.

Dorothy is survived by her seven children: Judy (Dale) Christensen of Alden, MN, Charles (Joan) Bruder of Illinois, James (Barb) Bruder of Georgia, Mary (Steven) Matthies of Arizona, Michael (Nancy) Bruder of Faribault, MN, Tom (Pat) Bruder of Cumberland, WI, Barb (Chuck) Hughes of Chanhassen, MN; 36 grandchildren; 57 great grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, grandson Dean Christensen and great-grandson Brandon Matthies.