Sign Guest Book

Ramsden, Dorothy
April 5, 1915 - April 3, 2010 

Oshkosh / Mineral Point - Dorothy Ramsden, age 94, died on April 3, 2010 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Alvin H. and Mildred (Winter) Goninen and was born on April 5, 1915 at the Happy Hills Home Farm, in the township of Mifflin, Wisconsin. She is survived and will be greatly missed by two children, Virginia Koch of Oshkosh, and Les (Eileen) Ramsden of Seattle Washington, five grandchildren, Cheryl (Jim) Mitchell of Chicago Illinois, Amy (Randy) Hoitink, of Omro Wisconsin, Carolyn, Raymond, and Jeffrey Ramsden, all of Seattle Washington, and three great grandchildren, Christine and Olivia Mitchell, and Holly Hoitink. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Raymond J. Ramsden, her brother Alvin Goninen Jr. and a great grandchild, Hope Mitchell.

Dorothy lived a happy and fulfilling life. She loved growing up on the farm and through eighth grade attended Mt. Vernon School, a one-room country schoolhouse. She graduated from Mineral Point High School, where she met and fell in love with her future husband. She graduated from the Rural School Education course at Platteville State Teachers College in 1935 and married Ray Ramsden at Mifflin in summer 1936. An excellent homemaker and cook, she also taught several rural schools in central and southwestern Wisconsin, full and part-time. Her teaching experiences ranged from being the sole teacher in a one-room country schoolhouse, to teaching fifth grade at Spring Road School in Neenah. She also worked as a medical school librarian at Ohio State University while Ray obtained his PhD in Philosophy, and as a nursing assistant in pediatrics at Mercy Hospital, Oshkosh.

During WWII while Ray served as a naval officer aboard an Aircraft Carrier, Dorothy moved back to the farm where her two children were born. Upon his safe return in 1945 the family moved to Oshkosh where Ray joined the faculty of Oshkosh State Teachers College. Dorothy enjoyed and was very involved in the academic social life, including membership in the Faculty Dames organization which she served as President in 1955. She participated in many activities and projects with them throughout the years. She enjoyed entertaining their many friends and hosted many “coffees”, teas, buffets and card groups.

In 1979, upon her husband’s retirement, they moved to Coburg, Oregon, where they lived and gardened for ten happy years, before moving back to Oshkosh for the remainder of their lives. They also took this opportunity to travel internationally and visit many family and friends.

Throughout her life, Dorothy was a passionate and avid flower gardener. She specialized in daylilies and was a hybridizer and judge. She was an active member of several local, state and national flower organizations, as both a member and officer or director. Local organizations included the Oshkosh Garden Club and Oshkosh Horticultural Society. She gave numerous programs, hosted many meetings, participated in many community organization projects, and won many ribbons and awards for her service, flowers and arrangements.

There will be a memorial service for both Raymond and Dorothy at Gorgen Funeral Home in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on April 17, 2010 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Mifflin Cemetery.