Dortha J. (Carpenter) Sorenson

Dortha J. (Carpenter) Sorenson, 93, of Garner and formerly of Belmond and Rural Goodell passed away May 29, 2017 at the Concord Care Center in Garner, Iowa.

Funeral services for Dortha Sorenson will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Goodell, 201 Willow Street, Goodell, Iowa, with Pastor Haddon Anderson, of the Garner Evangelical Free Church officiating. Burial will be held at Amsterdam Cemetery in Goodell.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 2, 2017 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South, Belmond, Iowa, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Dortha Jean Sorenson’s parents, Harry and Alma Carpenter, welcomed her on January 9, 1924. She lived her joyful 93 years of life demonstrative of the love of her savior, choosing to focus on others while graciously thanking God and people for their love and kindness. Her faith and courage remained constant throughout her life providing the kind of Christian principles that were a model for motherhood, grand-motherhood and marriage. Her quick and intelligent wit often came unexpectedly to people who were just getting to know her gentle nature.

Her parents farmed near Goodell, Iowa and Dortha’s childhood was full of happiness reflective of a proud solid Christian home. She attended the University of Iowa in the 40’s while being in charge of a college residence within a house in Iowa City. She was awarded her Liberal Arts Degree in Economics and Library Science on April 22, 1945.

After one year of mailed correspondence with her college friend Melvin Sorenson, who was serving his country during World War II, they became engaged. Dortha married Melvin on December 16, 1945 at the United Brethren Church in Goodell, a church her great-grandmother helped start.

After marriage, Dortha and Melvin (who shared a love of ice cream) started an ice cream store in Tyler, Minnesota named the Big Dipper. Due to the cost of sugar, they moved to the farm by Goodell, where Dortha’s parents lived. Two children, Larry and Jean, were born at the Belmond Hospital while they lived on the farm.

Melvin and Dortha moved their whole house to Belmond when Melvin got a job at the Iowa Electric Company and was asked to live in town. 1966 brought the tornado which destroyed the house that had been moved.

Dortha and Melvin with their kids traveled extensively around the U.S. while enjoying camping, beautiful photographic opportunities, and learning experiences.

After Melvin retired, the two camped their way to and from their Florida home each fall and spring for 23 years. Dortha showered her family and grandchildren with generosity and love while enjoying gardening, sewing, quilting, embroidering on a machine, reading, camping, cooking and kissing babies. She was a life-long learner, blooming wherever she was planted. She strove to help others feel good about themselves and their potential while supporting her soul with the joy of her salvation.

The family wishes to thank Concord Care Center of Garner, Iowa for all of the love, excellent activities, care, and kindness shown to Dortha during her four year stay at the care center.

Dortha is survived by her two children Larry (Linda) Sorenson of Clarion, Iowa and Jean (John) Goemaat of Rural Goodell, Iowa; grandchildren, Ryan (Candi) Sorenson and their child Chloe of Des Moines, Iowa, Eric Sorenson of Fort Dodge, Will (Gabby) Goemaat and their three children Ciera, Bryce, and Aiden of Eldridge, Iowa, Kristina (Joel) Gindo of Brookings, South Dakota; and other special relatives and the adopted grand-family Matt and Beth Boyles and their children Ella and Judah.

Dortha is preceded in death by her parents Harry and Alma Carpenter and her husband Melvin Sorenson in 2004.