Dorothy M. Crabtree

Dorothy M. Crabtree, 88, of Detroit Lakes, formerly of Lake Park, MN, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s, Detroit Lakes, MN. Dorothy Mae Theis was born October 18, 1936, in Ulen, MN, to Nicholas and Mary (Krpalek) Theis. She attended elementary school at District 35 Walworth Township before attending school in Ulen, where she graduated in 1954. Following high school, Dorothy worked at Manchester Biscuit Co. in Fargo for five years. On October 21, 1961, she married Lonnie Crabtree and together they made their home and started a family. After the children were in school, Dorothy worked as the head cook at the Nutrition Center in Lake Park until she retired. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church her entire life, where she was very active, taught Sunday school for 20 years, was a member of St. Francis Christian Women and sang in the church choir until she was 80 years old. Over the years, she loved to cook, sew, bake, camp, garden and travel but most of all she loved to spend time with her family. Dorothy will be dearly missed.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Jeff (Joan) Crabtree, Michele (Steve) Kriha, Joel (Jodie) Crabtree, Jason Crabtree; grandchildren, Ryan (Kylie) Kriha, Brett Kriha, Seth Kriha, Tim Crabtree, Ian Crabtree, Korah Crabtree; great-grandchildren, Benjamin, McKenna, and Carter Kriha; brother-in-law, Ron (Bonnie) Crabtree; sisters-in-law, Sandra Theis, Vi Theis, Margie Westlund, Janet Crabtree, Marilyn Leitheiser; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lonnie; her parents; one great-granddaughter, (Maggie Kriha); two sisters, Mary Ann (David) Larson, Helen (Robert) Rud; three brothers, Nick “Sonny” Theis, John Theis, George Theis; and five brothers-in-law, David Larson, Robert Rud, Tom Leitheiser, Marvin Westlund, and Vern Crabtree.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Lincoln Park Assisted Living and Essentia Health, St. Mary’s, for their wonderful care of Dorothy. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 7, at 11:00 AM, in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Lake Park, MN.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the church.

Interment will follow the service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Cemetery.