Dorothy Martin

Dorothy (Dottie) Boock Nunn Martin passed away Monday, January 12 at the age of 88 at her home at the Frazee Care Center. She had been ill for several months but continued to be alert and able to visit. Dorothy Marie was born to Emil and Nanna (Olson) Boock on May 11, 1926 in Detroit Lakes. She attended country schools in rural Becker County, often with her mother, Nanna, as her teacher. She then attended Frazee High School and graduated with the class of 1943. Dottie won an art contest to design a mascot for Frazee with her drawing of the original Frazee Hornet. Dottie attended nursing school at Concordia College in Moorhead. She was married to Warren Nunn in October of 1946 at Bethlehem Lutheran in Frazee. They had three daughters, Kathy, Janet, and Patty. She loved her work as a mother and homemaker, as well as her work as a waitress at Erie 34 Club and the Fireside. Dottie was remarried in April of 1960 to Len Martin, whom she met while he was her dance instructor. They had one child, Richard, in 1962. As her children grew older, Dottie participated with her husband in several ventures. She loved to sew and was a talented costume designer and seamstress for the Len Martin Dance Studio. She would often costume 50 or more students for dance recitals in Detroit Lakes, Wahpeton and Thief River Falls. In 1961, she and the children joined Len on the summer carnival circuit in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. They were partners with the Drescher family on the Midway of Fun Shows. Dottie and Len later went out on their own with the Len Martin Shows, Pat-Rick's Playway, and the Border State Shows. Dottie managed these carnivals until 1978 when the businesses were sold. 1981 was her last summer "on the road." Dottie graduated from the LPN program at Detroit Lakes Vocational College in 1977 when she was 51 years old. She loved nursing and worked at hospitals and nursing homes in Detroit Lakes, Frazee and Pelican Rapids. She stopped nursing when her father, Emil Boock, became bedridden and took care of him at their home until he entered long term care in 1989. While her daughters were growing up, Dottie served as a Camp Fire Girls leader. She taught many young girls how to build warm campfires, enjoy the wilderness, and, in most cases, identify and avoid poison ivy. In addition to nursing, sewing, and being a "carnie," Dottie loved reading, art and family get-togethers. Her greatest love, always, was for her children, grand and great-grandchildren. Dottie was preceded in death by 2 children, Kathleen Jeanette (Virgil) Kent in 1967 when Kathy was 20 years old and Janet Marie Nunn in 1980 when Janet was 30. Also preceding her was her husband Leonard Martin, and her parents, Emil and Nanna (Olson) Boock. Dottie will be greatly missed by her children, Patty Mike LaCoursiere) Nunn and Ricky Martin, both of Frazee. She will also be missed by her grand and great-grandchildren who called her "Grandma Honey;" Jason (Ilse) Rolf, Minneapolis, Nathan (Nora Sandstad) LaCoursiere, Duluth, and Janelle (Lukas) Brandon, Moorhead. Great-grandchildren, Ian and Nissa Rolf, Dylan and Julia Brandon, Henry LaCoursiere and Charles Sandstad. Also many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at David Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes on Monday, January 19, at 2:00 PM, officiated by Pastor Guy Roberts with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Monday, January 19, 2015
Service
Monday, January 19, 2015

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