Dorothy Emily (Asplund) Cochran was born on October 28, 1920 to Benjamin & Ann (Jerabek) Asplund; she was their oldest child and only girl, followed by seven brothers. She was born and raised in Dassel, MN and graduated from Dassel High School in 1937. On December 14, 1940, she married Arnold Ernest Cochran and they welcomed four children into their lives; Judith, Janet, Gary & John. They lived and farmed in the Howard Lake area, moving to town after their children were grown.
Dorothy had a strong work ethic and held various jobs throughout the years, including “farm hand” at home, and after raising her family, she worked at a sewing factory and lunchroom/school aide, and was a babysitter & ‘nanny’ for many. Her most important ‘job’ was being a good wife, mother, grandmother, sister & friend, and a good & faithful servant, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake for many years.
She always enjoyed time with her loved ones, and she made new friends easily & accepted everyone! She liked to socialize & visit, sharing stories & sharing her faith, along with many other gifts, treasures & talents! Besides her family, friends & faith, her interests included cooking, canning & baking (the best sugar cookies!!), gardening & caring for her plants, sewing & embroidery, listening to music & the radio news, playing games or working on puzzles, proudly supporting the USA & the military members (especially her sons & family members in the military!), following the MN Twins & following the grandchildren’s activities, too, always cheering them on! She loved family get-togethers & wouldn’t want to ever miss them! She enjoyed any kind of celebration, with family or friends; going to fairs & parades & theatre plays, shopping & eating out, Community Ed & weekend trips, traveling in the past & recalling the past, especially with trips to the Historical Society. She always enjoyed & appreciated these outings; one of her biggest highlights in the past year was going to a Twins game in May 2015!
She always declared her faith & felt so blessed, despite the many trials & hardships she endured, including her own health concerns and many losses over the years. She appreciated what she had, living a simple life, never even driving a car! She maintained a busy & active lifestyle despite that, as her health allowed. She lived alone for 38 years after Arnie passed away in 1976; she moved from her home into an apartment & then moved into the Howard Lake Care Center in 2014, still maintaining a positive attitude & ‘active’ lifestyle the best she could, despite her health declining. As her body & heart were failing, she chose hospice care 5 weeks ago, and so appropriate for her life, after living almost 96 years, she passed away at the care center on Saturday evening, October 1, 2016 with family present; her last ‘family get-together’, filled with laughter, tears, prayers & love. She went ‘home’ peacefully at the end of the day, a day that began with morning devotional readings including “I have fought the good fight” and “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” May she rest in peace…
Dorothy is survived by daughter Judy (Glenn) Mallak, son-in-law Laurel Anderson, daughter-in-law Karlen Cochran; Grandchildren Lisa (Brad) Jurek, Jeff (Julie) Mallak, Brad (Leah) Mallak, Eric (Nikki) Mallak, Ryan Mallak (Tricia Loxtercamp), Chris Anderson (Marlena Mogensen), Dawn (Jerome) Lindquist, Ann Horrmann (Kurt Potvin), Justine (Keith) Damlow, Amy Peters (Jon Brilowski), Beth Cochran, Mindy (Bob) Verhasselt & families, including 25 great-grandchildren & 5 great-great grandchildren (& another due March 2017); brothers David (Lorraine) Asplund & Robert Asplund; and many other family & friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold; daughter Janet, sons Gary & John; great-grandson Erik Horrmann, great-great granddaughter Talon Jade Dressel; parents & brothers Darrell, Richard, Donald, John, Bill Asplund, Sisters-in-laws Martha & Rosella Asplund; many Cochran in-laws, other family & friends.
A celebration of Dorothy’s life will begin on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 with visitation at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home from 5pm-8pm with prayer service at 7:30pm; a funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 1:00pm at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake with special friend Pastor Jacob Van Pernis officiating; pallbearers will be Dorothy’s grandsons & grandsons-in-laws & honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren. Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery, Howard Lake, MN. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, MN. www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401