Dorothy Fagerburg

Dorothy (Dottie) Elaine Fagerburg, age 79, of 28 Jefferson Street, Ripon, WI died Wednesday, December 6, 2006 in her daughter’s home in Green Lake, WI, surrounded by family and friends.
Dottie was born on October 23, 1927 to Morris Palmer and Vera (Cole) Williams in Osage, IA. She graduated from Osage High School in 1945. Dottie then studied at Sioux Falls College (now The University of Sioux Falls) where she met the man she would love through 57 years of marriage – Frank Phillip Fagerburg of Bloomington, IL.
While attending Sioux Falls College (SFC) she toured with the SFC Choir, was a sorority member of Pi Kappa Delta, Roister Doister, Delta Psi Omega and Quapaw. Dottie was awarded SFC’s “Purple Feather,” the highest award for outstanding students, and the SFC Senior Student Woman Representative of Sioux Falls College award. She participated in Oratory, Extemporaneous speech and Debate. She was a member of the American Baptist World Wide Guild (WWG), and was honored to be named to Who’s Who of College students. She was a member of the Student Senate and was the Student Association VP, was actively involved in the SFC newspaper and yearbook. She was chosen by the student body to be the Tepee Day Attendant. She graduated from SFC in June of 1949 where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Christian Education and Speech.
Dottie and Frank were married on June 12, 1949 at the First Baptist Church of Osage, IA, then moved to Berkeley, CA where Frank attended Berkeley Baptist Divinity School (now The Seminary of the West). Dottie worked for the Council of Churches in San Francisco and as secretary of the First Baptist Church (FBC) of Oakland until giving birth to their first son Frank Leslie in 1951. They directed the youth program at FBC in Oakland, then moved to Vallejo where Frank was Youth Director at First Baptist Church. Son Stephen George was born in 1953. After Frank’s ordination they returned to Sioux Falls where Frank was Assistant Pastor and Dottie was Director of Christian Education at the First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls.
In 1955 they moved to Trent, SD where Frank pastored the Trent Baptist Church and West Baptist Church of Coleman. Daughter Pamela Jo was born that same year and son Mark Daniel was born in 1959.
Alongside her husband, Dottie faithfully and lovingly continued to serve other American Baptist Churches including The First Baptist Church of Churdan, IA, The Federated Church of Green Lake, WI, and The First Baptist Church of Red Oak, IA. Dottie and Frank moved to Waupaca, WI where Frank served as Caretaker for two years at Camp Tamarack, the Wisconsin American Baptist Church state campgrounds. They then “retired” to their son Frank’s home in Iola, WI, although they continued to minister in many churches. God called them back to active ministry to serve at the First Baptist Church of Cresco, IA where they served for seven years until they officially retired in 2001. They returned to Green Lake where they most recently were members of The Federated Church of Green Lake.
Dottie’s service to God through these churches included Christian Education Director, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study leader, Choir Director, Choir Member, Women’s Fellowship member as well as serving on countless committees. She was a great organizer and “ideas” person when planning events in the church. She was instrumental in starting “The Live-Aloners” at The Federated Church, a group for those who had lost spouses or had never married who she and Frank invited to their home for monthly dinners and fellowship.
Over the years her community involvement has been varied. She has served as School Board President and Booster Club President and was active in community musical theatre. She loved attending all school activities her children were involved in – choral and band concerts and competitions, school plays, forensics competitions and sports events to name a few.
She enjoyed working a number of years at The American Baptist Assembly where she had the opportunity to see many close friends from college, seminary and other churches.
Her children learned from her the love of music, love of family and friends, and especially the importance of faith. She was a remarkable encourager to thousands and truly showed the importance of edifying one another. Over the years Dottie and Frank have made thousands of telephone calls to sing “Happy Birthday” to those in their church and community. She is lovingly referred to as “the birthday lady” by many.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Keith (Centerville, SD) and Dean (Storm Lake, IA).
Survivors include her husband The Reverend Frank P. Fagerburg, Ripon; son Frank (Nancy Schnackel), Iola, WI; son Steve (Marcia McNutt), Fort Dodge, IA; daughter Pam (and her fiancé Gordon Farrell), Green Lake; and son Mark (Susan Tornow), Columbus, WI. Grandchildren Carrie Joy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Brian Philip James, Fort Dodge, IA; Kindra Noel, Grandview College, Des Moines, IA, Taylor Alyse, Columbus, WI and Graham Parker, Columbus, WI. Sisters Mary Williams and Jean Clausen of Osage, IA and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: A public celebration of her life will begin with visitation on Saturday, December 9, 2006 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon. Visitation will continue on Sunday, December 10 from 1:00-2:00 pm at the Federated Church in Green Lake.
Funeral Service: for Dorothy E. Fagerburg will be held on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 2:00 pm at The Federated Church of Green Lake, with the Reverend Karen Gygax-Rodriguez officiating. Interment will follow at Dartford Cemetery, Green Lake. A memorial has been established in her name.
Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com