Dorothy Mae Ryan McLaughlin was born March 28, 1920, to parents Knudt and Cora (Fatland) Ryan at their home in Garden Township, Boone County, Iowa. She was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran faith. Dorothy attended Garden Prairie Country School and graduated from Kelley Public High School in Kelley, Iowa.
Dorothy was united in marriage to Charles Lowell McLaughlin at Slater, Iowa, in September 6, 1947. They were blessed with five children: Charlene, Doris, David, Jim and John. After 54 years of marriage, Charles died May 23, 2001.
Charles and Dorothy farmed east of Ortonville from 1949 until 1993 when they retired and moved to their home in Ortonville.
Dorothy was a member of the Ortonville V FW Auxiliary and Tabor United Methodist Church in Big Stone City, South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, her parents and three brothers.
Left to cherish her memory are her five children, Charlene (Bob Preble) of Bloomington, MN; Doris (Mike Fossen) of Spicer, MN; David (Patti) McLaughlin of Ortonville, MN; Jim (Terie) McLaughlin of Sioux Falls, SD; and John (Jody) McLaughlin of Sioux Falls, SD; her 15 grandchildren, Heather Forrest, Stephanie Kappel, Tim Fossen, Dan McLaughlin, Leah McLaughlin, Colleen McLaughlin, Ross McLaughlin, Megan McLaughlin, Micah McLaughlin, Jared McLaughlin, Reilly McLaughlin, Kasia Juenke, Bryan Hall, Nikki McLaughlin and Bobby McLaughlin; and 6 great grandchildren, MaryAnn Forrest, Raymond Kappel, Kyra Dunn, Will Fossen, Holden Fossen and Josiah McLaughlin.