Dorothy Youngblom

Dorothy “Dusty” Ann Youngblom, 83, died peacefully on Friday, October 20, 2017 surrounded by family at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. Mom was five feet and a half inch of pure heart and it showed in every life that she touched. And yes, that one-half-inch was very important to her. From the customers she served as a waitress, to all of us that got to have her the rest of the day, we all loved her dearly and she had more than enough love to go around for all ten of her children. We were each her “favorite,“ as she reminded us often, and she ruled the house with tenderness and by example. None of us would willfully disappoint her. She raised us well. When Mom was young she had a special love for her pony, Billy. She was just nine when she hooked him to a cart and spent countless hours riding around the farm. She married our father on December 23, 1952, in southern Minnesota and they moved to Duluth shortly after, eventually making their home on Strand Road in Lakewood. Mom worked as a waitress at The Idle Hour, Chinese Lantern, and The Jolly Fisher. Her customers became her friends and they’d request her by name. Though she enjoyed her work, she always said her favorite job was raising us kids. There are so many childhood memories --- After a long day working in the garden she would pack all ten of us kids into the Saab and take us to the Smiley Pond at Seven Bridges. She’d make a 5-gallon bucket of fried chicken with all the fixings and we’d take the van on a family picnic, always near the water. Somehow she got us all to do chores simply by making us feel like we were the absolute best at cleaning the bathroom or mopping the floor. Mom loved babies! She took the role of grandmother and great-grandmother very seriously and enjoyed every minute of it. She also had a special spot in her heart for all animals, especially her faithful companion and furry traveling partner, Buddy. Mom pushed through all hardships and pain in her life with grace. After losing her husband and one of her sons when she was in her early 60's, Mom fought to get back on her feet and slowly started living again. She met the second love of her life, Charley, and the two of them traveled, socialized, and let no grass grow under their feet, neither here nor at their winter home in Surprise, Arizona. She was the center of a large circle of friends there, and Charley always said she was the reason they all gathered every day for happy hour! Then, just a few years after she and Charley married, Mom suffered a series of medical setbacks which left her in a wheelchair, unable to speak (with words). She didn't let that stop her from living life to it's fullest. Her role had changed from caregiver to care-receiver and her devoted husband, Charley, cared for her in ways we thought impossible. Our family pulled together for Mom through these last years as she taught us what it means to truly care for someone you love. For six-and-a-half years, she told us without words that she loved us, using the simple universal sign for love; raising her first and last finger and her thumb. In her final days, even as she slept, she kept those fingers up, always telling us what we already knew. Dusty is preceded in death by her first husband and the father of their children, Arlon Youngblom, and her son, Loren Youngblom; her parents Morris and Gladys (Kolstad) Broste, and her brother Jerome Broste; as well as her longtime companion, Buddy. Surviving are her husband, Charley LaFleur; children Lee (Leslie) Youngblom, Darrel (Debi) Youngblom, Dane (Lynn) Youngblom, (Julie Stabe), Keely Youngblom, Karni (Jeff) Olsen, Keira Youngblom (Dave Lax), Kathleen Youngblom, Neil Youngblom (Ann Sullivan), and Kristi Youngblom; stepchildren Michelle (Larry) Barton, Christopher (Stephanie) LaFleur, Debbie LaFleur, and Jessica (Chris) Ottem; 35 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; as well as many loving friends in Duluth and Surprise. There will be time to visit with family and share memories of Dusty on Sunday, October 22, from 3:00 to 5:00 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 East 8th Street. The funeral will be Monday, October 23, at 11:00 o’clock with visitation one hour before, with Rev. Jerome Evavold officiating. Lunch will be served. Please wear the color purple, Dusty’s favorite. The family wishes to thank Dr. Joseph Howard, St. Luke’s Internal Medicine, staff at The Fountains/Ecumen Lakeshore, and the caring and nurturing staff at Solvay Hospice House. Memorials preferred to family to be used for gift in Dusty’s memory at Solvay Hospice House. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth.