Dorothy Skjoiten

Dorothy was born on June 8, 1931 to Melvin O. and Wilhelmina (Mina)(Meldahl) Bjerke, rural Hatton. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church of Hatton. She graduated from Hatton High School in 1949. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from NDSU in 1953, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She taught Home Economics at the Finley High School for one year.

She was united in marriage to Glenn Skjoiten on June 27, 1954 at St. John Lutheran Church. Together they farmed and raised their family in rural Hatton.

After Glenn’s passing in 2013, Dorothy moved to Edgewood Vista, Fargo, before returning to Hatton in 2020, where she resided at the Hatton Prairie Village.

Dorothy was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School, was actively involved in Ladies Aid and Circle, sang in the church choir, and attended weekly quilting. She was also a member of Homemakers, Republican Women, and the Hatton Community Theater, where she found her love for the stage, acting in and directing numerous plays. She gave her time willingly to the community by volunteering wherever needed.  

Her greatest joy was time with family and friends. She loved to sing, laugh, and was always up for a good joke. One of her favorite passions was bridge; she loved friendly competition with those in her bridge clubs. Dorothy also liked to cook and entertain; she was a talented seamstress and also enjoyed hand embroidery in her spare time.  Dorothy gave her love, time, and talents to the community and to her friends and family, all of which we will be forever be grateful. 

Dorothy is survived by her three children, Gale (Barb) Skjoiten, Fargo, ND; Tim (Cindy) Skjoiten, Hatton, ND; Karen (Terry) Euscher, Gwinner, ND; grandchildren, Kara (Casey) Tidd, Greg Skjoiten, Laura (Kevin) Walker; Maren (Justin) Askim, Andrea (Kirk) Rabenberg, Peder (Melanie) Skjoiten; Kirsten (Scott) Daniels, Courtney (Anthony) Steichen, Kendra (Erik) Lolland; twenty-two great grandchildren, brother-in-law Lynn Skjoiten, sister-in-law Mae Larson, and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Glenn; brothers and sisters-in-law Kenneth (Phyllis) Bjerke, Orvis (Dorothy) Bjerke, James (Jeanne) Bjerke, Ronald (Sue) Bjerke; sisters and brothers-in-law Mardelle (Marcus Naastad) (Donald) Tollefson, Jean (Monroe) Pederson, brothers-in-law Paul (Norma) Skjoiten, Alton Larson, sister-in-law Ann Skjoiten.