Dorothy Clausen, age 93 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View, following a battle with Covid-19. Dorothy Mae Strait was born on July 26, 1927, to parents Victor and Hannah (Olson) Strait in Willow Township, Crawford County, IA. She attended school in Sioux Falls, SD, from fifth through ninth grade and returned to attend Charter Oak Public School in Charter Oak, IA, graduating in 1945. After two years of normal training in high school, she taught country school for two years.

   In 1947, Dorothy married Elvin Clausen in Charter Oak. They settled on a farm near Soldier, IA, where they lived until 1965.

   In 1950, a son, Elvin Junior was born and lived for three days. Then in 1963, a daughter, Nila Jean was born. During this period of time Dorothy attended a satellite center of Drake University in Denison, IA, and received a paraprofessional certificate. She taught in the Soldier-Moorhead School District for fourteen years.

   After moving to Wall Lake in 1965, she taught summer school and subbed in the local school before accepting a job at Reiter Feed where she worked for fourteen years.

   Dorothy was a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary for over fifty years in Soldier and Wall Lake. During her years of membership she served as president of Unit 262 many times and was also vice president of the district for one year.

   After suffering an injury in a car accident, Dorothy retired. She started assisting in the public library in Wall Lake, from which she retired in 2012.

   In 1995, Elvin passed away at the home they built near Wall Lake. Dorothy then moved to Lake View where she resided until moving to Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View. She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.

   Survivors include her daughter, Nila (John) Houska of Storm Lake, IA; sister-in-law Darlene Clausen of Greenville, SC; many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

   Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Elvin; parents, Victor and Hannah Strait; son Elvin Junior; brothers Leonard and LaVerne Strait; sister Esther Koeppen; brothers-in-law Richard Thompson, Edwin Clausen, and Herb Koeppen; sisters-in-law Elvera Thompson, Adela Strait, and Martha Strait. 

Memorials may be sent to the Wall Lake Public Library in Dorothy’s memory.