Dorothy Josephine Beckwith

Dorothy Josephine Wolfe Beckwith (affectionately known as Dottie), age 90, of Mankato, Minnesota, passed away August 2, 2025, at Oak Terrace Assisted Living in North Mankato, Minnesota after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

A private graveside service will be held in early October in Calvary Cemetery, along with a celebration of a life well lived. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Dottie was born March 25, 1935 in rural Mankato. She was the child of Theodore Wolfe Sr. and Clara Hiniker Wolfe. After the death of her mother, her father married Edna Baynes and her family grew to include a step mother and more siblings that she adored. She grew up with her family on their rural Mankato farm. She spoke fondly of playing with her siblings and getting into mischief as a young child, including playing homemade games and riding the cows, pretending they were horses. They worked hard and played hard. She was a “tom” boy and considered herself quite tough. Despite challenges, she had a happy childhood with fond memories. She loved going to the Kato Ballroom on Friday nights to dance with her sisters and meet boys. She detested the cold winters and remembered wearing her dresses to catch the school bus and how cold she was. She also recalled how being left-handed in a Catholic school was very hard as it was perceived as taboo. However, she continued to be a lefty all her life and her penmanship was beautiful.

Dottie loved animals of all kinds. When she was a little girl, she saved $7 to buy a border collie puppy, after seeing an ad in a magazine. A call came to the house sometime after, stating that they had a puppy that was sent by train addressed to Dorothy Wolfe, and her dad needed to go pick it up. Talk about a surprise. Dottie named the dog Laddie and he brought her much joy. In later life, she and Al adopted a Siamese cat they affectionately named Frankie because of his blue eyes. He also was a source of comfort and joy for many years until his death.

Dottie worked at Hillcrest Healthcare Center and Immanuel St. Joseph’s hospital until she retired around 1996. She also cleaned houses on the side for “fun” money. She was very frugal.

Dottie was an excellent cook. The smell of fresh bread baking was common in her home, along with homemade pies and other treats. She canned vegetables and loved making spaghetti or eating salads. When not working or cooking, you would find a book in her hand. She was an avid reader, and particularly enjoyed historical fiction.

Dottie lived a full and adventurous life up to the very end. She and her first husband, Allie Seys, raised 5 wonderful children, Michael, Thomas, Peggy, Perry and Michelle. The family lived local in Mankato at various locations until they moved south in the 60’s, where the children established roots of their own in various places. Dottie returned to Mankato in 1988 after a divorce and began a new life with Alton (Al) Beckwith, after meeting on a blind date in 1996. Al and Dottie loved to travel in their RV, cruise in their corvette, visit and play cards with friends and family, take trips to the casino, cook, eat and spend time with their wonderful cat Frankie. Dottie was also an excellent quilter. She made over 50 quilts by hand, sewing day in and day out despite the arthritis in her hands, and gifting many of her works of art to friends and family.

Dottie had an infectious laugh. She always said laughter carried her through many challenges.

Dottie would like to be remembered for her strong faith in God. She always believed in Jesus and knew to take up her cross, no matter how difficult. She would say “God helps those who help themselves”. If you want something, you have to go after it. She said “love your children with all your heart and soul and teach them nothing ever will replace love. Tell them, teach them, show them what “I love you” really means in your everyday life.

Dottie is survived by her children, Michael (Patti) of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Thomas (special friend, Louise) of San Antonio, Texas, Peggy Davis of Farmington, Kentucky, Perry (Jennifer) of Hardin, Kentucky and Michelle (Brook) Biedscheid of Mankato, Minnesota; brother, Ted Wolfe, Jr. of Mankato, Minnesota; step-sister, Rosemary Mock (Marv) of Mankato, Minnesota. In addition, Dottie is survived by her grandchildren, Steve Seys of Memphis, Tennessee, Kristina Warren (Jed) of Memphis Tennessee, Mandy Farmer (Moises) of Mayfield, Kentucky, Dottie Jo Cooper (Donny) of Bledsoe, Kentucky, Brittany Seys of Hardin, Kentucky and Anna Biedscheid (significant other, Nathan) of Mankato, Minnesota, and many great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband; Al Beckwith; parents, Theodore and Clara Wolfe; her children’s father, Allie Seys; step-mother, Edna Wolfe; sisters, Marilou Hofmeister, Bonnie Friedrichs, and Lucille Lang; step-brothers, Charles Baynes, and Tony Baynes. The family would like to thank all of those who visited and cared for Dottie over the last 5 years.

In lieu of flowers, if you feel so inclined, the family would like donations made to BENCHS Humane Society in Mankato, Minnesota.