Dorothy M. Wells

Dorothy May Wells, age 78 of Randolph, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

A private funeral service was held followed by burial in the Randolph Cemetery.

A memorial fund is being established in Dorothy’s name.

Dorothy was born on October 15, 1933 in Ellendale, North Dakota, a daughter to Bernard and Matilda (Flagg) Gehring. She grew up, attended schools, and as a young woman worked in the Ellendale area. There she met a man from Wisconsin who worked for a telephone company and on May 15, 1955, Dorothy was united in marriage to Richard Wells. After many moves, they settled their young family in the Village of Randolph in 1964. Raising their kids and cleaning summed up those early years, as she was a devoted wife and loving mother with a very tidy home. Her passion was caring for her family, including after school care and meals for her grandchildren and caring for her in-laws. She found great enjoyment working as a waitress and was affectionately known as “Big Red” to many of her customers and family. Dorothy worked in what is now Denise’s Café for many years, and at the Hotel Rogers and Larson’s Family Restaurant in Beaver Dam.

Dorothy is survived by two daughters: Debra Wells and her husband, Duane Beekman of Fox Lake, Dawn and her husband Casey Vander Galien, Danville, Indiana; two sons: Douglas and his wife Brenda, Randolph, and Daniel and his wife Faye, Neenah. She is further survived by five granddaughters: Brittney and her husband Seth Hynes, Allyce Jung, Jennifer and her husband Diego Olivares, Kelsey and her husband Scott Hinkley, and Morgan Wells and great-granddaughters, Adelyn Hynes and baby girl Hynes due in September; her brother Orville Gehring of North Dakota; and her dear friend and helper, Barbara Brandenburger, Randolph.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard in 1999, one brother, and four sisters.