Dorothy May Behnke

Dorothy May Behnke passed away peacefully on August 21 in Ely, MN. She was born Dorothy Kern on October 1, 1927 in Osage, Iowa to Rev John D. and Irene (McPike) Kern. She often regaled her children with happy tales of Osage, where she spent most of her childhood. Long into her late nineties she could still recite the Osage high school song – "No higher can we rate her, because she's our alma mater." When Dorothy was in high school her parents moved to Monmouth, IL, so that their children could take advantage of the clergy discount at Monmouth College. While attending college she met the love her life, Gene Behnke and they married in 1951. Eventually, they settled in Monmouth and raised a family of four – David, Anna, John and Janie. She taught at various schools, but her favorite job was as the children's librarian at Warren County Public Library. Few things gave her more enjoyment than holding a session of Story Time surrounded by a circle of bright-eyed children. Dorothy also harbored an adventurous streak, waitressing at a resort in Door County, WI, working at Troutdale in the Pines, in Evergreen, CO, moving to Los Angeles, CA for a year, and teaching in Littleton, CO all before she was married. She and Gene spent many summers in a tiny Rocky Mountain ghost town, without a phone or running water. Far from civilization, she took it in stride when her children rushed in to tell her a mineshaft had opened in the neighbor's yard. Dorothy was no stranger to sleeping in a tent or burning her socks over a campfire after a particularly soggy mountain hike, but she always said the greatest adventure of her life was raising her family. Later she and Gene took a summer job at Camp Voyageur in Ely, MN, a move that would open a whole a new world for Dorothy and her family. They made lifelong friends and eventually built their own cabin just down the shore from the camp. Many summers were spent at the cabin, enjoying the lake with family and friends. After retirement she continued to enjoy travel and spent several summers working at the YMCA of Rockies in Estes Park, CO. Though it was no secret that Dorothy was not fond of chicken, she did love ice cream, kittens, marsh marigolds, baking snickerdoodles, winning at Chinese checkers, paddling up a moon path, a robin's song before the rain, the winding staircase and rainbow-casting windows of her rambling old house, "diamonds on the lake" and hugs from her grandchildren. Dorothy loved many things, though it is the love she shared with others that will stay with those that knew her best. Throughout her life Dorothy had many names – Dottie, Dot, the May Queen, the Salad Lady, Mrs. B., Sassy, G-ma, but most importantly to her four children… Mom. Her spirit lives on wherever a wildflower blooms, a kitten purrs or child smiles. She is survived by her sister Marcia (Jim) Hoffmeister, children Dave Behnke, Anna (Doug) Thompson, John Behnke and Janie (Brian) Hecht, and her grandchildren Emma Thompson, Anna Hecht and Matthew Hecht. No services are planned, memorials can be directed to the Warren County Public Library, 62 Public Square, Monmouth, IL 61462 or Camp Voyageur, PO Box 420, Ely, MN 55731. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy May Behnke, please visit our floral store.