Dorothy Carol (Volk) Queen

Dorothy Carol (Volk) Queen, age 82, of Mankato, died on Monday, June 5, 2017 at Oaklawn Health Care Center. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary with Father Andy Olsem officiating.  Visitation will be on Saturday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Northview.  Private family burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. 

Dorothy was born on December 29, 1934 in St. Paul, one of nine children, to Charles and Rose (Kessler) Volk.  She grew up on a farm in Le Sueur County, near Marysburg and graduated from Cleveland High School.  Dorothy was united in marriage to Donald “Duke” Queen at Immaculate Conception of Marysburg on February 12, 1955.  They raised their four children on Mulberry Street next to SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato.  Dorothy enjoyed cooking and baking, including some years spent cooking in the SS Peter and Paul cafeteria and preparing meals for her beloved neighbors, “the seminarians.”  Her specialty were her pies, she always remembered everyone’s favorite kind.  Dorothy was a tireless volunteer for her parish and VINE and any other group that needed help.  She was passionate about her family and their futures, stating often that she was the only high school graduate of all of her siblings and that all four of her children and all five grandchildren were college graduates.  Second only to her family was her love for her large group of friends.  From playing cards to the many trips and adventures they shared, she appreciated them all.  Especially their visits and support the last few weeks.  The family nicknamed her time with her friends as her “magic medicine.”  She had a special ability to visit with someone for only a few moments before finding a common connection, friend, relative, or location.  Dorothy will be remembered for her hospitality and her kitchen, where there was always coffee and baked goods waiting. 

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Linda (Glenn) Beer of Cleveland; sons, Lloyd (Janel) Queen of Missoula, MT, Lee (Lisa) Queen of Owatonna, and Lance (Lisa) Queen of Belle Plaine; grandchildren, Joe (Jenny) Beer of Golden, CO, Melissa (Deric) Swenson of Moorhead, MN, Chelsey Queen and special friend, Brett Jahnke of St. Cloud, Emily Queen of Owatonna, and Jacob Queen of Milwaukee, WI; great-grandchildren, Harper Mae and Emmett Beer of Golden, CO; sisters, Sandy Zitzman and Darlene Rodell; brother-in-law, Gerald “Jiggs” Queen; sisters-in-law, Carol (Joe) Lenz and Marilyn “Sis” Filan; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings, Donald Volk, Florence Barnes, Raymond Volk, Kenneth Volk, Walter Volk, and Grace Kenyon; and brothers and sisters-in-law.