Dorothy Daphne Oakes

About Dorothy

Dorothy Daphne Oakes, 102, of Cass Lake, MN died Thursday, November 30, 2023 at the Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.

Dorothy was born September 14, 1921 in the village of Cass Lake, MN, the daughter of George and Pearl (Tucker) Donnell. She was raised and educated in the Cass Lake area and attended Cass Lake High School.

She served as a nursing assistant at Ah-Gwah-Ching while a high school student. During WWII she was a “Rosie the Rivetor,” riveting and welding ships in the Portland, OR Shipyard.

She married Frank Oakes in Waukegan, Wisconsin on May 16, 1955. They lived in Racine, WI, for a time where she was a bus driver for many years, and worked for Ostor small appliances. Her family moved back to Cass Lake in the 1960’s and she and Frank built a home. She attended the Bemidji Vo-Tech, without being late or missing a single day, earning a degree in Accounting at the age of 51. She worked as an Accountant for the Leech Lake Reservation in Cass Lake. She enjoyed traveling extensively, golf, gardening, and was an animal lover, even going so far as to feed a bear who lived near her home.

She is survived by:

Her daughter, Marie Raine,

5 grandchildren

11 great grandchildren

11 great great grandchildren

1 great great great grandchild

Numerous Nieces and Nephews.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, brothers Richard Donnell, George Donnell, sisters Jean Donnell Ketchum, and Judy Fairbanks Gorman.

Active Casketbearers will be:

Jim Glidden, Family Friend

Casey Crooker, Great Nephew

Alexander Sharp, Great Grandson

Edward Fairbanks, Nephew

Steven Langston Donnel, Nephew

Michael Hawkins, Grandson

The family would like to thank the Staff of the Havenwood Care Center, and Sanford Hospice and Home Care for the loving care they gave to Dorothy.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Dorothy

December 7, 2023

Location: Landmark Baptist Church in Cass Lake, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Chippewa Bible Cemetery in Cass Lake, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home