Dorothea W. Tower, 87, of Staples, died March 12, 2009 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services were held March 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples with Pastor Robin Collins and Pastor Ed Koehler officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.

Arrangements were with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Dorothea was born June 28, 1921 in Southwestern Minnesota, to Louie and Anna Conrad. At an early age she and her family moved to the Eagle Bend area where she graduated from high school. She furthered her education by graduating with a degree in education from St. Cloud State University and later obtaining her Master's Degree from Bemidji State University.

For more than 40 years, she taught fifth grade at Staples Elementary. When retired, Dorothea devoted her care giving to her family and church. She enjoyed music, gardening, crossword puzzles and the outdoors.

Dorothea is survived by one son, James (Carol) Tower, of Baxter; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Jathea Adams; her husband, James H. Tower; her parents and one brother.

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