Dorothy Marie Cobian of Hager City, 95, passed away surrounded by family on December 2, 2019 at River Falls Area Hospital. Born July 15, 1924 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Frank and Anna (Staiger) Huppert, Dorothy attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Prescott High with the Class of 1942. Dorothy furthered her education at the College of St. Catherine School of Nursing in St. Paul, where she graduated in 1946. She was a member of the Army Cadet Nurse Corps and worked as a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital until she wed Donald George Cobian. Dorothy and Donald’s 72-year-long marriage, beginning on September 16, 1947 at St. Mary’s Big River Catholic Church, would be blessed with four children: Mary, Michael, James, and George, as well as two generations of grandchildren.
Devoted to her faith, Dorothy was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Big River Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society and served as president of St. Mary’s Parent-Teacher Association. Dorothy was a prefect of St. Mary’s Sodality and St. Joseph’s Hospital Nurses Sodality as well as a member of the St. Catherine University Alumni Association. Although her formal nursing career ended when she was quite young, Dorothy possessed a keen intellect and her love of the practice of medicine motivated her to keep herself educated about new developments over many decades. She sometimes said that she had really never stopped nursing; her skills and advice were called upon by many.
As the daughter, wife, and mother of farmers, Dorothy had a true interest and keen appreciation of the workings of the family farms. Until their retirement in 1992, she kept meticulous daily diaries of activities so that she was always able to provide dates and statistics to compare to the present. And she was the bookkeeper and tax preparer for the farming operation.
Dorothy took great pride in her home and flower gardens and was always ready to welcome guests with her hospitable and gracious ways. She enjoyed lifelong friendships with many neighbors and cousins in the Big River area. She and Donald especially enjoyed years of membership in a monthly “birthday” card club, and in later years hosted impromptu euchre parties with the young adults and teens in the family. Dorothy was especially proud of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include Dorothy’s children: Mary (Phil) Betzel, Michael (Victoria) Cobian, James Cobian (Linda Matzek), and George (Karen) Cobian; 10 grandchildren: Christine (Cory) Larson, Sara (Tim) Noel, Anne (Justin) Kieffer, Jacqueline (Ryan) West, Daniel (Katy) Cobian, Alexander Cobian, Caleb and Emma Cobian, Richard (Teresa) Ohm, and Crystal (Justin) Hines; 18 great-grandchildren: Hannah and Ella Larson, Mara, Seth, and Gretchen Noel, Ben, Skyler, and Riley Kieffer, Beren and Vivien West, Liv and Will Cobian, Josh (Ali) Hines, Colton and Michael Hines, Shaun, Brent, and Kimberly Ohm, along with many nieces and nephews.
In her final days, Dorothy expressed her joy about reuniting in her heavenly home with husband, Donald; parents Frank and Anna; sisters Laura Magnan, Sister Elvira, O.S.F., Kathleen Deiss; and brothers Leo, Howard, and Maurice Huppert.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy Cobian will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 14, 2019 at St. Mary’s Big River Catholic Church, W10137 570th Ave, in rural River Falls, WI, with Rev. Fr. Kevin Louis officiating. Visitation will also be held at the church, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and interment will take place in the parish cemetery. Young members of Dorothy’s family will serve as pallbearers and assist during the service. At Dorothy’s request, memorial contributions to the restoration of St. Mary’s Big River Catholic Church are preferred.
Services have been entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home. 715-425-5644 www.oconnellfuneralservices.com
