Dorothy Roberta McCarthy

Dorothy Roberta McCarthy May 6, 1928 – June 7, 2025 Dorothy Roberta McCarthy, 97, of Lebanon, passed away Saturday, June 7, 2025 at her home. Dorothy was born May 6, 1928 in a log house near Swatara, MN, the fifth child to Leslie Oliver and Edith Mae (Olds) McAninch. Three more children were born to that union. In 1933 Leslie got a job selling Raleigh products and the family moved to Pequot Lakes to be closer to his work. Dorothy attended a one room country school her first eight years, starting High School in Pequot Lakes. The next year they moved and she attended Backus High School, graduating in 1946. The following year Dorothy attended normal training in Walker, MN, earning a degree to teach in schools. She taught one year near Le Suear, MN. Following that year she married Archie Claussen and moved west, coming to Lebanon in the fall of 1948. In 1949 Dorothy and Archie welcomed their first child, a son. Two years later they had a daughter, and seven years later in 1958, they had another son. Dorothy returned to college the next year, commuting to Monmouth for a year, receiving an emergency certificate and returned to teaching the following year. She continued teaching in the rural schools for over 10 years. Those years she took night classes and summer school, earning her Bachelor's degree in 1967. Archie and Dorothy divorced in 1980. In 1981 Dorothy married Paul McCarthy and moved to Lakeview, OR. Paul passed away in 1990. Dorothy then moved back to Lebanon, where she resided until her passing. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, and siblings; Edith, Lloyd, Russell, Doris, Lois, Helen, and James. She is survived by her children, David (Valerie) Claussen, Nancy (Rollan) Juhnke, and Tom (Shelly) Claussen. A memorial service will be held for Dorothy at 2:30pm, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the American Legion in Lebanon. Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.