Dorothy Irene Naramore

About Dotty

Dorothy Naramore passed away on April 7, 2024 at the age of 102. “Dotty” was born on the Ides of March (March 15), 1922 in Lakota, North Dakota to Elizabeth and Edward Sorensen. She was the third of four children, and graduated from Lakota High School in 1940.

She then moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota and attended Aakers Business College. During World War II she worked for Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, California, returning to Grand Forks where she then worked for ten years in the Superintendent’s Office of the Great Northern Railroad Company.

More importantly, while in Grand Forks she was introduced to her future husband, George Naramore. George, having recently purchased property with the dream of having a resort, realized that this gal, who was a hard worker, would help him realize that dream. After a short engagement, the couple married in Grand Forks in 1953. Not wasting time, their first child, Scott, was born in 1954 followed by Nancy in 1956.

The family moved to Bemidji in 1958, where George taught math at the Junior High School. His degree in Industrial Arts was useful for building cabins for the development of the Red Squirrel Resort. Third child Beth was born in 1959 to complete the Naramore family.

Perfect together, George and Dotty enjoyed bowling, curling and dancing. Dotty also played a mean game of bridge (which, in turn, made her the queen of Skip-Bo in her later years).

In addition to being a wonderful homemaker, Dotty served as a bailiff in Beltrami District Court for over 12 years, was the first woman to be a director on the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce board, and a director on the Bemidji Hospital Community board. She worked for the Grand Rapids Herald Review in association with the Bemidji Area Vacation Guide for six years. She was active in the United Methodist Church, awarded “Special Mission Recognition” and belonged to PEO Chapter EX. Dotty clearly loved Bemidji.

For 54 years, George and Dotty’s Red Squirrel Resort became not just a vacation destination, but a relationship destination for the many people that became part of their and their children’s lives; relationships that continue to this day. It was so much a part of Dotty’s life that at 88 years young, she actually memorialized that love by tattooing a red squirrel on her leg.

Dotty was a numbers person; her favorite time on the clock was 11:11. Whenever she noticed that time on the clock, she and George would say, “I love you” and give each other a kiss. So, to remember Dotty, whenever you notice 11:11 on the clock, join her children and grandchildren and let someone know how much you love them.

From the Bemidji Pioneer on Dotty's 100th birthday: https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/lifestyle/as-her-100th-birthday-approaches-dotty-naramore-celebrated-for-spirit-humor.

memorial service

The family will have a memorial celebration in the summer.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home