Dorothy Dahl

Dorothy L. Dahl, 95, Gackle, ND, died Monday August 21, 2023 at the Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

They say behind every good man is an even better woman. A quiet and patient soul content to stand in the shadows and let others shine. That woman was Dottie. A wife. A mother. A sister. A grandmother. A true and genuine friend. For 66 years, she was the woman behind her beloved husband and cowboy John (Jack) Dahl. She spent years taking care of four kids, helping on the ranch known as Dahl Land and Cattle Company and feeding the cowboy crew as they worked to make hay or work the herd.

She was born Dorothy L Davis on May 8, 1928, in Jamestown North Dakota to parents Lee and Dorothy (Peterson) Davis. She spent her youth in Mandan, Steele, Valley City, and Dickinson before ending up in Fargo where she graduated from Fargo Central High in 1946. She continued her education at Fargo Agricultural College before spending 5 years as a dental assistant.

She married Jack on February 23, 1952, and they settled SW of Gackle on “The Ranch”, where they spent their life operating Dahl Land and Cattle Co. with their three sons.

Dottie lived a life of service to her family and to her community. She was a long-time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and actively involved in the ELCW for 32 years where she served as president. She also taught Sunday school, was chairperson of the Cradle Role, and sang in the church choir. In her community she served as part of the Fireside Literary, a long-time member of the Homemakers club, a chairperson for the community blood drive and a member of the Gackle Future Development. Her service to kids extended beyond her own family in her role as 4-H leader as well as Girl Scout, Cub Scout, and Boy Scout leader. She was also actively involved in the cattle industry as a member of the ND Cattlewomen where she held a variety of offices.

Dottie was a true and cherished friend who could always be counted on for an afternoon coffee, a listening ear, a laugh, and a prayer. Her eyes glistened when she smiled, and in them you could see a reflection of her generous heart. She loved to read and in later years she made the switch to audio books, keeping her mind sharp.

Her quiet example shaped the character of her three sons Dan, Streeter, Jeff (Karen) and John “JD”, Gackle, and her daughter Margo (Mickey) Spring, Fargo, seven grandchildren, Samuel, Jordan (Kendra), Nathan (Kelsie), Brooke, Jasmyne, Alicia and Justin as well as five great grandchildren, Hadley, Adrienne, Maximus, Azalea, Gracelynn and Aleah all of which survive her. She is also survived by one brother Robin (Shirley) Davis, Fargo, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a sister, Pam, a daughter-in-law, Dorothy Dahl and one great grandchild Nora.