In our thoughts…
We learned with sorrow about the passing of former Dame Ginny (Virginia) Stryker Brodeen on March 29, 2024. Ginny was a Dame from 2009-2019 and served as Historian from 2012-2018. Ginny was responsible for the creation of our first website as well as many photos of Dames events and activities. She was a wonderful artist and photographer. Ginny worked for St. Paul Public Libraries as an outreach librarian, serving patrons at Lexington and Rondo Libraries. She believed in the power of libraries and requests that people consider a donation to your local public library in her memory. She leaves behind husband Rawley, three daughters and sons-in-law, and six grandchildren. Obituary published in the StarTribune on April 3, 2024.
Minnesota Dame Virginia K (Ginny) Stockwell died peacefully in her sleep at home surrounded by family on February 4, 2024. Just shy of 97, Ginny was one of four children born in St. Paul to Eleanor and Stanard Kinkead. She graduated from Summit School and Pine Manor Junior College, then studied Plant Pathology at University of Minnesota. She worked at the Minnesota Historical Society before marrying Richard S Stockwell. Ginny loved the outdoors and spent long hours tending her flower and vegetable gardens alongside raising her four children and a myriad of pets. She had many hobbies and skills such as canning, bread-making, sewing, knitting, embroidery, weaving, pottery, and tennis; was involved with the Junior League, the Women’s Club, the P.E.O., the Shubert Club, and others; and participated in several book clubs, dance clubs, and choirs. Ginny and Dick spent nearly 40 winters in Arizona alongside longtime Minnesota friends, where they joined the local Presbyterian Church and hiking club, and developed a deep love of the desert rocks, colors, plants and wildlife. They also explored the world through boat tours and Elderhostel adventures. Sweet Ginny was kind and thoughtful, always putting others before herself. She had a good life, and the bright light of her presence will carry on in all who knew her.
Longtime Dame Nancy Pexa passed away January 16, 2024. Born on New Year’s Day 1940, Nancy was enthusiastic about genealogy and was an active member of several lineage organizations including NSCDA, DAR and the Mayflower Society. Her ancestor was Gov. William Bradford. She became a Dame in Connecticut in 2007 and transferred to MN Dames in 2012. She will be missed.
We report with sorrow the passing of former member Margery (Marnie) Hensel on January 5, 2024. Marnie was an active member of our Society from 1985 until just this past year. She served as Minnesota Society President from 2013-2014, and was co-chair of the NSCDA Region II Conference held in Minneapolis in 2011. In 2012 Marnie was placed on the NSCDA Roll of Honor. Marnie was born in New York in 1931 and completed her degree from Smith College in 1952. She was a patron of the arts, including the Women’s Association of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and Mia. Full obituary at: https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000478243/
We send condolences to Marnie's family.
With sorrow we report the passing on August 2, 2023 of Minnesota dame Brenda Harum Canedy, aged 90. She was a 42 year member of our society. Brenda served on the Alexander Ramsey House Board for 8 years, from 2010-2018. She was born in Indiana and graduated from Radcliffe College. Brenda married Norman Canedy in 1956 and lived in New York City and later Cambridge, MA, where Brenda was the assistant to the director of Women’s Archives at Radcliffe. Brenda and Norman later lived in Philadelphia and London, England, before moving to Minnesota. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and was honored as a Distinguished Alumna in the School of Nursing. She retired from private practice and as director of the graduate nursing program at the College of Saint Catherine.
We are saddened to inform you that Minnesota Dame Maxine Jessup Houghton Wallin died peacefully on April 2nd, 2023. A native of Duluth, Maxine graduated as valedictorian of her class from Central High School at the age of 16. After working in a Duluth bank, Maxine enrolled at Macalester College and then at the University of Minnesota, graduating Magna Cum Laude in international relations. Reading, literature and international relations were always among Maxine's great passions. She received a degree in library science from the U of M and was employed as a research librarian at the U's Walter Library. Winston and Maxine were married in Minneapolis in 1949. From 1955 to 1965 Maxine and Winston lived in Ogden, Utah where Maxine worked as a medical research librarian at a hospital. Upon the Wallin's return to Minneapolis in 1965, Winston and Maxine became leading figures in the Twin Cities philanthropic community. Maxine served numerous not-for-profit institutions in volunteer or Board roles including the Minnesota Orchestra, the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, Hennepin County Library Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Presbyterian Homes of Minnesota, the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, University of Minnesota Friends of the Library, University of Minnesota Women's Athletics, Kappa Delta Sorority, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and others. One of her personal highlights was receiving the Katherine Phelps Lifetime Achievement Award from the Junior League of Minneapolis in 2013. In 1992 Maxine and Winston founded what is now known as "Wallin Education Partners," a non-profit entity dedicated to helping promising students from Minnesota low-income families attend college through financial and advisory support. Maxine was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Minnesota and the Daughters of the American Revolution. We will miss her and send our condolences to daughter-in-law and Dame Cynthia Wallin.
Minnesota Dame Polly (Pauline) Goodrich O’Brien, 99, died peacefully at home March 17, 2023. In addition to excellent genes, Polly lived the triumvirate of good health & long life; she was intellectually inquisitive, athletically active, and socially supreme. Polly grew up in Winnetka, Illinois and attended North Shore Country Day School and Smith College. Polly and her husband Michael raised their family in the Highland Park neighborhood. She was a lifelong avid tennis player, golfer, and volunteer. She worked at Quality Book Shop, then the Old Mexico Shop and then started her own interior decorating business. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army or charity of choice. A memorial service will be held May 18 at 10:00am at St John the Evangelist, 60 N Kent St, St Paul, followed by a Celebration of Life at Mendakota Country Club, 2075 Mendakota Drive, Mendota Heights 12-3pm. Obituary was published in the Star Tribune 9 April 2923. We will miss you, Polly.
It is with sorrow that we inform you that a member of our MN Society passed away on July 1, 2022. Diana Lee Devereaux Kootz had been a member since 1997. Her ancestor was John Howland of Massachusetts. Diana was a St. Paul resident and had recently moved to Tampa, Florida. She was the mother of three children. Among her favorite charities were the Gillette Children’s Hospital, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and Saint Paul Garden Club.
Our heartfelt condolences go to Dame Nancy Lindley on the loss of her mother, Sue Evenson, on February 15, 2022. Nancy writes, ”She was not only a terrific mother, but a friend and my life long advisor.” She went on to tell stories of Sue’s travels to Paris, her entrepreneurship, and her gracious skills as a hostess. Nancy said “Mom knew how to live life well for 94 years!!” We are sorry for your loss, Nancy.
We will miss Dame Ruth Stryker Gordon, who passed away December 17, 2021. She was born in St. Paul in 1925 and graduated from the University of Minnesota with her BS and RN degrees, and obtained a master’s in education at the University of St. Thomas. She was Director of Nursing Education at the Sister Kenny Institute and taught at the University of Minnesota for 17 years, also authoring ten textbooks on nursing. Ruth was an active and energetic force in our Minnesota Dames since she joined in 2003. Ruth served as Treasurer and as Second Vice President of our Minnesota society and was added to our Roll of Honor in 2010. She spoke at the NSCDA-MN annual meeting in 2019 about her childhood association with Sarah Colvin, a suffragist who was sent to jail for marching for women’s suffrage. NSCDA-MN created a History Sketch of her ancestors, John and Virginia Perin Stryker. Ruth had many other interests as well, serving as board chair of the Unity Church Unitarian, and serving on the boards of the New Century Club and the Stratis Health Board. She had a distinguished career as a nurse, writer and educator, and had an abiding love of dogs, which led to her authorship of several books, including Follow the Dog, a history of the St. Paul Police Department canine unit.
Our thoughts are with the family of Dame Georgia Ray Lindeke who passed away on July 21, 2021. Georgia was a true treasure, a great humanitarian, and a keen intellect who served the Dames faithfully for many years, She was President of the NSCDA-MN from 1987-1991, was added to the NSCDA Roll of Honor in 1988, and wrote biographies of Marion Furness and her daughters Laura and Anna that are in the Minnesota Historical Society collections. She also wrote the 100 year anniversary history of the NSCDA-MN in 1996. Besides her interest in the Dames, she wrote extensively about St. Paul author Grace Flandrau. Her activities also extended to historic preservation, as she chaired the Historic Sites Committee of the city of St. Paul, was appointed executive director of the Bicentennial Commission and was a founding director of Minnesota Landmarks. She received an award from the Minnesota Architects Association and was honored in Washington DC for her contributions in preservation. For more information about her, see the brief biographical sketch of Georgia on our NSCDA-MN Presidents’ page here.
We are sorry for the loss of Henry (Harry) Sweatt, husband of Dame Virginia (Ginny) Sweatt on October 21, 2020. Harry was born in Minneapolis in 1931, and graduated from Princeton University in 1954 and Harvard Business School in 1956. Harry and Ginny married in 1955 and they spent two years in the Army Finance Corps in Ulm, Germany. Upon their return, he started his career at Honeywell, working in the New York, Cincinnati, and Boston offices before returning to Minneapolis in 1978. Harry loved the outdoors and nature, teaching his children and grandchildren to camp and fish. He was a supporter of education and numerous philanthropic organizations including Episcopal Community Services and the Oberholzer Foundation, where he served as a board member. He and Ginny also supported the Backus Community Center in International Falls. He loved music and supported the Minnesota Orchestra, where he was a 30-year subscriber. Harry and Ginny had three children and eight grandchildren. The family asks that memorials be directed to WeCAN programs in Mound, MN. Ginny, you are in our thoughts.
We are saddened to learn of the death of Dame Elizabeth Lee (Fobes) Murphy on December 13, 2019. Born on Valentine’s Day 1941 and raised in St. Paul, she lived in Sarasota Florida at the time of her passing. Lee loved flower arranging, attending the symphony and supporting the arts, and her volunteer service reading to children. Predeceased by her husband James Murphy, she is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren. Memorials preferred to Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul, MN.
Condolences to Dame Kitty Petit on the loss of her mother, Renata Rolf Winsor. Renata passed away on December 8, 2019. She was born in the parish house of St. Mark’s Lutheran church in New Germany, MN, fourth child of Rev. Theodor Rolf and Clara Hertwig. After attending grade school in a one room schoolhouse, she graduated from Norwood-Young America High School and graduated from the U of M with a nursing degree. As nurse supervisor at Minneapolis General Hospital (noe HCMC), she spoke of caring for patients during the polio epidemic of 1946. She married John Winsor in 1944 and they raised three children, David, Kitty and Mary. She loved gardening, travel, entertaining, golf, and bridge. Memorials can be sent to St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church Foundation in Plymouth, MN or the MN Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. Kitty, we are sorry for your loss.
Former Minnesota Dame Sally Warner Wyer passed away in Vero Beach, Florida on October 19. 2019. She was born in 1931. The Wyers lived in Wayzata, MN until 1984. Like her mother, Sally was a Colonial Dame. She was a board member of the Courage Center in Minneapolis and a member of the Garden Club of America in Wayzata. After moving to Very Beach, she co-founded the Garden Group at St. John's Island. She was an active member of the Episcopal Church. Condolences go to her children William, Molly Wyer Fitzpatrick, and four grandchildren.
With sorrow we report the passing of Dame Ruth Stryker-Gordon's husband George Kenneth ("Ken") Gordon. He died September 26, 2019. Ken was born in Buffalo NY , attended college in Pennsylvania and sent three years in Egypt before returning to attend seminary. He served many years as the minister for Presbyterian parishes. Ken joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota and co-authored the first textbook in nursing home administration and received awards from the American College of Health Care Administrators and Rotary clubs for his role in their polio eradication programs. He and Ruth enjoyed travel to Mexico, Central America and Europe over the years. Our sympathies to Ruth, a long time contributor on the board of NSCDA/MN.
We are saddened to report the passing of Dame Jane Wyman Donnelly Birks on June 30, 2019. Born in 1924, Jane was an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, and served on the boards of ARC of Saint Paul and Minnesota Diversified Industries, and was executive director of of the Developmental Services Organization. She also served on many state committees and Governors' commissions. Our condolences go to children Ellen Donnelly, Jane Donnelly, and David Connelly Jr. as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren and many other family members.
Our thoughts go out to Dame Susan McCarthy on the loss of her mother in law and fellow Dame Alexandra Bjorklund, who died on June 23, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husbands J. Daniell McCarthy and Warren Bjorklund, brother Robert F. Ordway and sister Pondie Nicholson Johnson. She is survived by sons Edwin James (Susan) McCarthy and Thomas Ordway McCarthy, daughter Kathryn McCarthy (Ged) Parsons, stepson Kurt Warren (Susan) Bjorklund as well as 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Memorials are encouraged to the Como Cafesjian’s Carousel in St. Paul, or the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul.
Condolences go out to Tammis McMillan on the loss of her aunt and Libby Leavenworth on the loss of her grandmother, Dame Elizabeth Ringer, who passed away on March 2, 2019. Elizabeth was born in 1924. She served on the board of the Colonial Dames in the state of Minnesota, as well as the board of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. She was active in the Minneapolis Junior League as well as other community organizations. Daughter of Howard and Mabel McMillan, Elizabeth graduated from Westover School in Connecticut and attended Northrup School in Minneapolis. She worked for the OSS during World War II. She is predeceased by her husband of over 60 years, Walter. Tammis and Libby, we are sorry for your loss.