Dorothy Ada Mueller, 90, of Owatonna, peacefully passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Dorothy was born December 19, 1935, on the family farm near Hetland, South Dakota, minutes after her twin brother, Donald, to parents Hertha (Rusch) and G. Adolph Weiss. Dorothy attended a country school for grade school, going on to graduate from Lake Preston High School at the top of her class.

Dorothy was accepted into the Methodist Hospital Nursing School in Mitchell, SD, for their three-year Registered Nursing (RN) degree, graduating in 1957.

While visiting one of her mother's classmates in Wisconsin, Dorothy saw the photo of James A. Mueller in his Navy blues. The Korean Conflict was nearing an end, but Dorothy heeded the call to "support our troops". She began to write letters to James, and a relationship developed. When he finished his four-year stint, James and his parents traveled to South Dakota to meet Dorothy. Dorothy moved to Madison, WI, and lived at the YWCA and worked as a nurse while James continued his studies at the University of Madison. They married at Badger Lutheran Church in Badger, SD, on December 28, 1958. The couple returned to Madison while James completed his degree in accounting.

In 1960, James took an accounting job in Owatonna, MN, a town midway between their parents which led him to a position at Federated Insurance Company for the next 28 years. Dorothy began working "on call" at the Owatonna City Hospital, which she would continue until her retirement. Her appearance was noteworthy due to her continued wearing of her nursing uniform: white shoes, white hose, white dress and distinctive nurse's cap with the black RN ribbon.

After James' death in 1988, Dorothy retired from nursing then trained and worked as an office assistant temp in Owatonna for Jostens, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Women's Resource Center. She finished her career as a full-time employee of Federated Insurance Company.

Dorothy loved to travel, near and far. Many memories were made when Dorothy and family were joined by Donald and family at a fishing lake. Visiting Donald and Carol Weiss on their hobby farm always felt like home. James and Dorothy toured Europe in 1986, including London, Germany (visiting foreign exchange student Volker Kretschmer) and Sweden (visiting foreign exchange student Maria Croona). Again to Sweden in 2000 to visit Karen. Then in 2005 to Guatemala with Karen and her niece, Karla Weiss, to bring home Karen's children. Dorothy really enjoyed the Owatonna Senior Center bus tours including going to Lake Louise/Banff, Alberta, Canada, and Door County, WI. She was always ready to visit her children's homes for projects, to help with her grandchildren and take them to the Fair.

Being both from farming families, Dorothy and James filled gardens with tomatoes, potatoes, rhubarb, peas, purple beans, kohlrabi, and onions fertilized with organic fertilizer from their own domesticated rabbits. Produce was then frozen or canned. After James passed, Dorothy changer her stock to purebred rabbits and showed them at American Rabbit Breeders Association shows. Dorothy learned cake decorating skills at a community ed course, then started her own cake decorating business creating multi-tiered wedding cakes as well as whimsical creations such as the "bikini cake" requested for the Young Life cake auction. Later, she took over as the teacher of the course. Dorothy won so many blue ribbons for cake decorating at the Steele County Free Fair, she was asked to forego further entries to give others a chance to shine. Being interested in creating art since childhood, Dorothy continued taking painting classes at the Owatonna Senior Center. She kept her hands busy sewing, knitting afghans, hats, and scarves. She loved sharing time and experiences with her grandchildren.

As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Dorothy enjoyed services, Circle, taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School for over 35 years and rang bells in the bell choir. Dorothy was a member of the Red Cross, the Owatonna Area Rabbit Club and VFW Auxiliary for over 25 years. Dorothy was a patron of the Little Theatre of Owatonna and the Owatonna Arts Center.

Dorothy is survived by her three children, David (Lori Reinert) Mueller, Karen Mueller, Richard (Penni) Mueller; and grandchildren, Joseph, Micah, Jordan, James, Matthew (Fiance Madison Johannsen), Ada and McKenzie, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband James; two brothers and two sisters.

The funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna on Friday, March 13, at 11 am with a visitation one hour before the service. Interment will take place at St. John Cemetery in Owatonna.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church's Sunday School or Bell Choir funds.