Dolores Betty Wortel

Dolores “Dottie” Betty Wortel, 98, of Mankato, died peacefully at New Perspective Senior Living in Mankato on June 1, 2021.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato.  Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the funeral.  Fr. Andrew Whiting, IVE will officiate.  Interment will follow the service at Calvary Cemetery. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family.

Dottie was born on March 23, 1923, the fourth of five daughters to Elsie and Archie Knapp and grew up in Mankato. After graduating from Mankato Night School, she went on to nursing school at Mother Cabrini Nursing Hospital in Chicago.  In 1948, Dolores married Joseph Wortel of Chicago.  They lived in Chicago and Rochester briefly until moving to Mankato, Minnesota where they raised three children, David, Dan “Barry” and Winnabeth.

Whether it be nursing, parenting, volunteering or enjoying retirement, Dottie approached everything with perseverance, creativity, and a sense of humor.  At the core of everything she did was her faith in God. 

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; parents, Elsie and Archie Knapp; and sisters, Eunice Brown, Lenore (Ginger) Seppman, Gladys French and Arlene (Sweetie) Seppmann. She is survived by her children, David (Katy), Dan “Barry” (Kathy) and Winnibeth (Raymond) Drenckhahn; grandchildren, Dan Wortel, Theresa Wortel, Robyn Wortel, Mike Dreckhahn and Liz Drenckhahn.

Her spirit and faith will live on in all who knew and loved her.