Dorothy E. Ketterling Just

Dorothy E. Ketterling Just went to her heavenly home on January 3, 2014 at the age of 84. She was born April 13, 1929 in rural Burnstad, North Dakota, to Phillip and Albina Ketterling. The family moved to eastern North Dakota, where she went to elementary school and graduated as co-salutatorian from Oakes High School in 1946. Her jobs while attending school were waitress, grocery clerk, and lumber yard secretary.
Dorothy moved with her family to Lodi in May, 1946, where she worked as a store clerk and telephone operator. She married John Just on November 30, 1947 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lodi.
John and Dorothy moved back to North Dakota, where they farmed for 7 years on the Just Homestead. Dorothy taught elementary school for 1 year in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1954 they moved back to Lodi, where Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest daughter entered kindergarten. Dorothy was a secretary at St. Peter Church for 10 and a half years, leaving that job to take care of her ill parents for 6 years, along with her two sisters' help. She was an Avon representative for 5 years.
After her parents died, she attended an ROP class for 9 months. In 1982 she went to work at Lodi Memorial Hospital as a pharmacy clerk for 25 years, retiring in 2007. She enjoyed her work and was also a mentor to other employees.
Dorothy attended St. Peter Lutheran Church, was president of Lutheran Women's Missionary League for 10 years, and attended Life Light classes, which she also taught. Her hobbies included hand quilting, crocheting, cooking, and reading her Bible plus other books.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 66 years, John Just, her 3 daughters, Griselda (Lansing) Waters, Jeanne Kay, and Angela (Daniel) Guerra, 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, her sister, Wilma Lobes, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Her parents, 5 sisters, and a brother precede her in death.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 2-8pm at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, Ca 95240. Graveside services will be held at 2pm, Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 and Harney Lane in Lodi, with a Celebration of Life following at 3pm, Thursday, January 9, 2014 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2400 Oxford Way, Lodi, Ca. Memorial contributions may be made to The Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Dr, St. Louis, MO 63141 or Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, Ca. 95356-9576
Please sign the online guestbook at www.cherokeememorial.com