Dorothy Trnka

Dorothy Trnka, age 87 of Barnesville, MN, formerly of Mahnomen, MN, died Wednesday, May 09, 2012 at Essentia Health Systems in Fargo, ND. Dorothy Alice Gish was born December 24, 1924 in Mahnomen to Raymond and Lillian (Nagel) Gish. She attended school in Mahnomen and graduated with the class of 1944. Following high school, Dorothy was united in marriage to Stanley “Bud” Trnka on April 20, 1945 in Mahnomen. They lived in San Francisco, CA, while Bud served his country in the US Navy. After his honorable discharge, Bud and Dorothy made their home in Casselton, ND, and worked on the Howe Farm. In 1949, they returned to Mahnomen to make their home and raise a family. Dorothy’s greatest job was taking care of her family and raising four children. Bud passed away in 1988 and Dorothy remained in their home until 2009 when she moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Barnesville, MN, thoroughly enjoying both the staff and the meals. Over the years, Dorothy always had a plentiful garden and lavish flower beds. She took extreme pride in her flowers and was known to harvest the fruits of her labor from her garden and share the wealth. Dorothy was a wonderful cook and baker; making many special treats, particularly those of buns, caramel rolls, molasses cookies, white sour cream cookies and family favorites, fried chicken and meatballs. In earlier years, Bud and Dorothy loved to go camping and dancing, especially to Polka or Waltz. Other activities which often occupied her time were spending the afternoons playing Bridge and other card games, reading and spending time with family especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Noah and Greyson Wiidakas. Dorothy’s faith was an important part of her day to day living and the compass that she lived her life by. She was a proud member of First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen and was active with the ladies aid, alter guild, church circle, bible study as well as with the local homemakers club. Dorothy is survived by a son, Keith Trnka, Minneapolis, MN; three daughters: Sharon Wiidakas, Fargo, ND, Linda (Larry) Warhol, St. Cloud, Bonnie (Jim) Iverson, Fergus Falls, MN; ten grandchildren: Kari Wiidakas (Craig Cline), Brad (Heather) Wiidakas, Tom Warhol, Eric Warhol, Kelly Iverson, Mandy Iverson, Anthony Iverson, Bud Trnka, Sally Trnka and Katie Trnka; several great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law: Lucille Gish, Mahnomen, Vera Gish, Fargo, ND, Betty Keezer, Thief River Falls, MN, and Cec Trnka, Mahnomen; nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, two sisters, Clara Hendrickson and Verna Tschida; and four brothers: Roy, Orland, Orville and Raymond Gish. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 2:30 pm at the Anderson~Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen, MN. Visitation will be held Friday, May 11, 2012 from 5-7 pm and one hour prior to the funeral all at the Anderson~Mattson Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, Mahnomen.

Dorothy Trnka

December 24, 1924 - May 9, 2012