Cold Spring
September 15, 1935 – September 5, 2026
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12th at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Dorothy Pflipsen, age 90, who passed away peacefully Saturday at the Benedictine Living Community in Cold Spring surrounded by her loving family. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring and from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Narthex of St. Boniface Catholic Church.
Dorothy was born September 15, 1935, to Christian and Kathryn (Wachman) Ruegemer. She married Richard Pflipsen on August 6, 1955, at Immaculate Conception Church in New Munich. They were blessed with three children who were the light of their lives. Faith was at the center of Dorothy’s life. She lived her faith not only through her words, but through the way she treated others – with humility, compassion, kindness, and love. She truly sought to live out the Beatitudes, offering grace to those around her, caring for others, and finding joy in serving. Her faith was a quiet but powerful example to all who knew her, and it was woven into every part of the life she lived and the love she shared. She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church where she was a Eucharistic minister and trustee for many years. She was very active in bible study groups throughout her life. She volunteered on the board of directors at Assumption Community for 23 years.
She took pride in helping her mother with household chores and caring for her younger siblings after the passing of her father at a very young age. She had a special bond with them and was always sharing stories about their dad to help keep his memory alive.
Dorothy worked as a paraprofessional at ROCORI Area Schools and retired in 2000. Prior to retirement she started to sell tickets for ROCORI sporting events that spanned over 50 years. Dorothy’s smiling face while selling tickets led to many friendships over the years.
Dorothy was a loving and dedicated wife, mom, grandma and great grandma. Camping and snowmobiling are fond memories of time spent together. Her pride and joy were her vegetable and flower gardens. Some very warm memories spent with her were taking the large cucumbers and making boats and sailing them in the bathtub. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s theatrical, musical and sporting events. The Minnesota State Fair was an annual family outing for over forty-five years that included camping and later, hotel stays on Labor Day weekend. She loved the challenge of a good water slide! Dorothy never missed a Vikings game and made sure she had her picks completed prior to game day- gambling definitely involved. Dorothy was an excellent cook and baker. She made wedding cakes, decorated Christmas cookies and was famous for her headcheese. There was always something simmering on the stove, baking in the oven, or waiting on the counter. She had a way of making everyone feel at home and there was one thing you could always count on…you never left her house hungry!
Survivors include her children Deb (Rod) Jenderseck, Randy, Brian (Sandy); grandchildren Andrea (Charles) Jones, Christopher Jenderseck, Jennifer (David) Jelinski, Jordan (Megan) Pflipsen, Candace (Travis) Taylor; great-grandchildren Alayajah, Maleeah, Gage, Tenley, Austin, Ryley, Bailey, and Bentlee; Sister Lucille Stock; and sisters-in-law LeeAnn Ruegemer, Dee Ruegemer and Mary Ann Pflipsen.
She is proceeded in death by her loving husband, Richard; her parents, Christian and Kathryn; great-grandchildren Baby Jelinski and Baby Pflipsen; brothers, Eldred (Ruggie) and Norman; brothers and sisters in-law Marian and Loren Dierkhissing, Allen and Etta Pflipsen, Donny Pflipsen, and Charlie and Arlene Pflipsen.
A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice and Benedictine Living Community.
Services are with the Wenner Funeral Home, Cold Spring, MN.
