Dorothy was born into the family of Edgar and Ingeborg Haugstul on July 22, 1937. She was raised by her parents along with her older brother Jim in Fosston, a small Northern Minnesota town of 2,000, in a big white house in a neighborhood that evoked images of Pleasantville, USA.  Her parents were born to Norwegian and Swedish Lutheran immigrants, and she was instilled from an early age with Midwestern work ethic, importance of family, and the centering of her Lutheran faith.  She learned how to cook Swedish goodies with her mom and she often "helped" her dad at the Texaco Gas Station he built with his brother Tilford.  She graduated from Fosston High School in 1955 and pursued and received a Home Economics degree at Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota in 1959.

Dorothy entered Concordia a beautiful and engaging woman rooted in the work ethic, importance of family, and Scandinavian heritage instilled by her parents, and now she was mastering cooking, sewing, and managing the household with her Home Economics degree.  She had no shortage of willing male suitors.  After turning down his first several advances over 6 months, Dorothy agreed to a third request for a date with Concordia student David Bjornson, and the courtship began and led to their marriage July 5, 1959.

Dorothy approached things with purpose and made the sacrifices to realize the results, and this now meant raising a family with the added challenges of starting her married life with David as he began a 3-year commitment with the Army.  This meant relocations to Ft. Sam Houston and Killeen, Texas and then to Deridder, Louisiana. After their return to Killeen, Paula was born and Dorothy returned to Fosston for 1½ years to raise Paula while David served overseas in Korea. David returned to the US and the young family lived in Minneapolis until 1970 when Dave completed a Master's Degree at the University of Minnesota and began employment with two Minneapolis hospitals, during which time Julie and John were born and their young family was complete.

In 1970 Dorothy agreed to a "short-term" adventure that would take the whole family away from their Minnesota homeland to Portland, Oregon so Dave could take a job at Providence Hospital with the idea they would move back to Minnesota in a couple of years. That never happened. Instead, Dave accepted a position with St. Peter Hospital in Olympia in 1972 and was promoted to Administrator two years later (where he worked until his retirement in 1999). In Olympia they bought the perfect house for Dorothy - a beautiful 1930's home with a spectacular view of Budd Inlet and Mount Rainier.

Dorothy took much pleasure and pride in painting rooms, repainting rooms, decorating, outfitting, and entertaining in her home. She had a "sewing room" connected to the family room and spent many hours here. She loved to sew crafts such as ornaments and Santas (many of her family and friends still have her Santa and ornament collections). She made aprons, clothing, curtains, and in time, lots of quilts and wall hangings. She was a perfectionist so her work was beautiful.  Dorothy didn't understand the concept of "idle" time – even the break of watching TV meant sewing or cooking could be done at the same time.

Dorothy's other passion besides creating a beautiful home was to plan, organize and execute countless church, PEO, Hospital Auxiliary, and other fundraising activities that were centered around lunches, brunches, dinners, and teas. With her propensity for perfection, these events came off very successfully … and when they did, it was time to start planning for the next one.

Dorothy was a terrific wife to Dave, who had a very successful career and was a widely recognized church and community leader.  Dave deserves only some of this credit as Dorothy exemplified the adage "behind every great man there is a great woman".  She ran the household, accompanied him to countless events where she laughed at all of his "jokes", and she patiently outlasted others to accompany Dave home as they were often the last to leave an event (Dave has a "gift" for talking).  Her biggest focus was raising their 3 children, encouraging and supporting all of their activities, and instilling the same faith and Scandinavian heritage she grew up with.  These were some of her happiest years.  She particularly loved gathering around the dinner table with her family, especially as the table grew larger with 7 grandchildren she adored.

Dorothy's father Edgar passed away in 1981, and she convinced her mother Ingeborg to move from the big white house she had lived in for 60 years to Olympia and start her new life at her youthful age of 78.  Dorothy involved her in all of her Gloria Dei Lutheran Church quilting and other activities, and Ingeborg quickly had built her new life with new friends and neighbors.  The fact Ingeborg became everyone's favorite new friend brought pride and joy to Dorothy.   Dorothy drove Ingeborg everywhere, and when Ingeborg finally slowed down with onset of Dementia at 94, Dorothy was a very attentive and loving caregiver to her mother until she passed at the age of 98. Dorothy was purpose-driven and devoted to family her whole life.

Dorothy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in fall of 2014 so Dave and Dorothy decided to pack up that big Olympia house and move to Anacortes to be closer to their daughter Julie and husband Steve, who helped with the growing caregiving needs. Dave had many years of increasing caregiving opportunities and as life became more diminished for Dorothy, Dave took such loving and wonderful care of her. He was blessed with much patience and, to our delight, her sense of humor grew during this time. She died peacefully at Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood in tandem with the care from Hospice of the NW. She got her Heavenly Promotion on March 17.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Dave, children Paula Bjornson, Julie (and Steve) Jacobson, and John (and Celesta) Bjornson, her grandchildren Bjorn, Marin, Brita (and Peyton), Isak, Emma, Annika and Sarah, as well as her brother Jim (and Ionne) Haugstul of Fosston, sister-in-law Karen Shepard of Boulder, CO and 5 nieces and nephews.

Gifts in memory of Dorothy may be made to Anacortes Lutheran Church , Providence St. Peter Foundation or the charity of your choice.

To share memories of Dorothy, please sign the online guest register and bookmark this link for future visits: https://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/dorothy-bjornson