Dorothy Harms

Dorothy Harms, 100, of Sauk Rapids, MN, passed away on Monday June 15, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Valley Baptist Church in Milbank, SD. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in Corona Baptist Cemetery in Corona, SD.

Dorothy DeBoer Harms was born August 15, 1925, in rural Corona, SD, to parents, Okko and Hattie (Poppen) DeBoer. At the age of nine, she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was baptized by immersion that same year. She then joined the First Baptist Church in Corona. She attended school in Corona. Following high school, she attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD, after which she taught school in both Grant and Roberts Counties.

In 1945, she was united in marriage to Elmer Harms. They farmed in rural Corona until 1951, when they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. She worked at Sioux Valley Hospital and J.C. Penney Co. and did volunteer work for the Women’s Alliance. In 1956, they moved back to Corona, where she supported Elmer with his trucking business. In 1965, they moved to Milbank, where she worked at First National Bank, J.C. Penney Co., and Milbank Mutual, and managed the Lantern Motel until 1984, when she retired. For many years while working outside the home, she was also the caretaker for Elmer, who was disabled due to back issues. In 2010, she and Elmer moved to Litchfield, MN, and after Elmer’s death in 2012, she moved to the St. Cloud, MN, area to be closer to Bob and his family.

Dorothy and Elmer spent a number of years helping Dorothy’s sister, Virginia, raise her children, Troy and Gina. As a result of that help, Troy and Gina became very special to her, a relationship that lasted until Troy’s death and continues today with Gina.

Dorothy loved her Lord and her family. She enjoyed baking, decorating, calligraphy, reading, and painting both folk art and rosemaling. She enjoyed having family and friends in her home. While in Litchfield, she was happy to be closer to her family and enjoyed reading and spending time with her friends.

Dorothy was a loyal supporter of the churches to which she belonged: Corona Baptist, Trinity Baptist in Sioux Falls, and Valley Baptist in Milbank. She taught Sunday school and daily Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, was a member of the Ladies Mission Society, and served as a Deaconess. At the time of her death, she was a member of Valley Baptist Church in Milbank.

Dorothy is survived by her son, Bob (Debbi); special niece, Gina (Pete Weiss); grandsons: Michael (Toni), and Scott and Tim; great-grandsons: Ryan (Katie), Brent (Breanne Loesch), and Cam (Aiyana Oman); great-great-grandsons: Brayden, Zander, Everett and Nolan; special great-nephew, Jacob Harms, special great-niece, Jordyn; and brother-in-law, Al (Kathy Amos) Scheusner.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her parents; an infant sister, Delores; brother, Lawrence (Ruth); sister, Virginia Scheusner; and special nephew, Troy Harms.