Dorothy Lynn (Nelson) McLaren

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Dorothy Lynn (Nelson) McLaren

July 20, 1936 - Sept. 5, 2016

KASSON, Minn. -- Dorothy Lynn (Nelson) McLaren died Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, at Fairview Nursing Home in Kasson after a lengthy battle with emphysema. She was 80 years old.

Dorothy was born on July 20, 1936, in McCook, Neb., to Guy L. and Rosa E. (Schlegel) Nelson. Dorothy grew up in McCook and after attending college and working for a few years in Denver, she boarded the cruise ship "Oriana" and moved to Australia in 1964.

On March 13, 1965, she married Robert "Bob" E. McLaren in Ballina, Australia. They made their home in Australia, where Bob was a master ship builder and carpenter. They moved back to her hometown of McCook in 1983.

In McCook, Dorothy worked her remaining full time career as a receptionist/secretary at Cornbelt Chemical Company.

In 2012, Dorothy moved to Kasson to live with her daughter (Rosie) and son-in-law (Scott). She lived with them for three years, before moving into an assisted living facility at Prairie Meadows in Kasson.

Dorothy's hobbies included crossword puzzles and reading. She had always been very active with the Methodist Church in McCook and Dorothy was very strong in her faith. She also enjoyed spending time with her family.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Bob; her parents, Guy and Rosa Nelson; step-father, Lynn Wilcox; brother, Arlyn "Buddy" Nelson; and two sisters, Fern McGuire and Avis Ray.

Survivors include her son, Lynn McLaren and husband, Don Hooper of Denver, Colo.; daughter, Rosie and husband, Scott Rose of Kasson; courtesy daughter, Bonnie and husband, Mike Brown of McCook; two sisters, Nadine and husband, Gerald Owens of Tennessee and Karen and husband, James Ruff of McCook; five grandchildren, Edward and wife, Chelsea Rose, Alex Rose, Cooper Rose, Sydney and husband, Randy Bauman and Lyndsay McLaren. Dorothy also had three great- grandchildren, Ashlyn, Emmett, and Tristan.

A Celebration of Life will be planned in October (date to be determined) in McCook.