Dorothy Sladek

Dorothy Ann Sladek, age 88 of Dundas and formerly of New Trier and Bloomington, died peacefully following a brief illness on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System - St. Mary's Campus, Rochester.

Dorothy was born on January 29, 1931 in Kramer, North Dakota, the daughter of Helmer and Mathilda (Schepp) Schultz. At a young age, her family moved to Cannon Falls, MN. She schooled in Randolph and later graduated from Cannon Falls High School in 1948.

She married William “Bill” Otto on August 7, 1951 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New Trier. They raised 11 children in New Trier and were members at St. Mary’s, where she was a teacher’s aide at the school. She was known for her delicious baked bread that she would sell to area families for $.25/loaf. Bill died on October 29, 1975, and she went to work at Dakota County Technical College and Dan’s Bar.

She married Allen Sladek on June 21, 1980 at St. Mary’s, and they moved to Bloomington. She managed the cafeteria at 2 Apple Tree Square for many years. She also worked at numerous schools in the Bloomington area in their cafeterias. She was also active with the Czech/Slovakian Club in St. Paul for 30 years. They moved to Dundas in 2005 and were members of the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield, where she helped with funeral luncheons.

Dorothy enjoyed crocheting, baking, dancing and reading. She had a green thumb when it came to flowers or gardening. She loved her North Dakota trips to see family, and especially loved to be a book buddy at the Cannon Falls Schools for her great-grandchildren.

Her legacy of love continues now in the hearts of her family…her husband of nearly 40 years, Allen; her children, Ray (Toni) Otto of Cannon Falls, Shirley (John) Miller of Cannon Falls, Gary (Sheryl) Otto of Northfield, Ed Otto of Hampton, Paul (Deb) Otto of Cannon Falls, Kathy (Steve) Welch of Farmington, Gregg (Nancy) Otto of Cannon Falls, Laurie Potthoff of Hastings, and Dodie (Ron) Braith of Montgomery; son-in-law, Fritz Schiller of Miesville; daughter-in-law, Liz Otto of Cannon Falls; 30 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter; sister, Marilyn Naylor of Cottage Grove; and many nieces, nephews, and loving relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Helmer and Matilda Schultz; her first husband, Bill Otto; son, Peter Otto; daughter, Dianne Schiller; son-in-law, Art Potthoff; and siblings, Viola Otto, Ella Mae Scheidler, Gladys Eckblad, and Carl Schultz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 9-11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Trier. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Church or to donor's choice.

Active pallbearers will be sons, Ray, Gary, Ed, Paul, Peter in spirit, and Gregg Otto, and nephew, Frank Otto. Honorary pallbearers will be daughters, Dianne Schiller in spirit, Shirley Miller, Kathy Welch, Laurie Potthoff, and Dodie Braith.