Dolores West

Dolores (Dodie) Faye West, 75, of Granite Falls, Minnesota, died at the Granite Falls Manor on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011. She was born on August 16th, 1935 to Ernest R. Hansen and Anne Klein Hansen. She attended school in Granite Falls, graduating in 1953. She married Ronald (Ronnie) Eugene West on April 16th, 1955.Dodie worked at a bank in Granite Falls from 1953-1956. She also worked as a volunteer for head start and as a home health aide for her father. Her biggest job was raising the 9 children she had with Ronnie. Dodie enjoyed reading, playing bridge, ceramics, painting, puzzles and games, spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending her children's school and sports events and watching football (especially any team coached by Tony Dungy).Dodie was a strong and loving woman who devoted her life to family and friends. She was kind, generous and forgiving of spirit with a keen sense of wisdom and humor. Although Dodie faced adversities and challenges throughout the years, her thoughts and prayers were for the love and care of others. Dodie typically could speak volumes with a few words and a laugh, a smile or a "look." Dodie remained young at heart and shared her wonderment of God and the world through the giving of herself. Dodie was the kind of woman who would wake her children in the middle of the night to share the Northern Lights. Dodie is survived by her husband, Ronnie; her mother-in-law Evelyn West; five sons: Mark (and Lori) , Michael (and Amie), Matthew (and Stacy), Martin and Marlan (and Dawn); three daughters: Melody (Thomas) Winkelman, Marsha Quidgeon and Monica; six sisters: Arlene Klecker, Rosemary Homan, Dianne White, Susanne Anderson, Charlotte Weidendorf and Patee Spray; her brother Ernest's family; fourteen grandchildren: Joshua West, D.J. Olsen, Candace Kolander, Jami Mannle, Amanda West, Blake West, Mackenzie West, Anthony West, Sara West, Emily West, Blake West, Jacob West, Clay West and Aubree West; eight great-grandchildren: Auston Weber, Jy West, Alexis West, Kyler Olsen, Danni Jo Olsen, Brooklynn West, Brayton Mannle and Marlee Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews.Dodie was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ernest Hansen; one son, Mitchell West; her father-in-law, Woodrow West; and one sister-in-law, Margo Grams. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the charity of the givers choice in memory of Dolores Faye West.