Dorothy Malz

Dorothy Malz, age 70, of Belle Plaine, MN, passed away unexpectedly on a trip away in West Virginia on August 10, 2025. 

A Christian Funeral will be held at 3:00 PM with a Time of Gathering from 1:00 - 2:45 PM on Friday, August 22, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 6th St W, Jordan, MN 55352. Pastor Jeremy Glowicki will preside.

Urn bearers and honorary bearers are grandchildren, Scott Hanson, Joey Hanson, Madison Malz, Tyler Rudkin, and David Schabelski, and great-grandson, Casey. 

Dorothyann was born on September 19, 1954 to Harold Wells and Mildred Clisso in West Virginia. A couple years later, Mildred united with Donald Grasser, who legally adopted Dorothy, and they moved to Baltimore, Maryland as a family. Soon after, due to Don’s military service, the family moved to Minnesota and settled there. Dorothy was raised in Jordan, MN and graduated high school in 1973. Shortly after her graduation, Larry Malz returned from his military service and the couple were united in marriage on June 23, 1973 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jordan. Together, Larry and Dorothy took over the family farm and began to start a family of their own. They were blessed with three children, James, Daniel, and Jessica.

Dorothy and Larry farmed side-by-side their whole lives and raised a close-knit family. They always prioritized the four “F’s” – Farming, Family, Faith, and Fishing! Generous to a fault, they always had open doors and open hearts for anyone that needed it. Dorothy wouldn’t hesitate to put local kids to work picking weeds, rocks, or snakes that needed to be dealt with. After whipping them into shape, she’d send them home better off! She was everyone’s “Ma” or “Nanny” and her five grandchildren and great-grandson were her pride and joy.

30 years ago, Dorothy was involved in a terrible accident while driving her tractor – an 18-wheeler collided with her, and she was sent to the hospital for weeks of recovery. She was proud to have bounced back fully from a near-death experience and go on to live a full and enriching life.

Dorothy is loved and will be greatly missed by children, Dan (Danielle) Malz, Jessica (Ryan) Hanson; grandchildren, Scott, Joseph, Madison, Tyler, and David (Kirsten); great-grandchild, Casey; siblings, Christine (Shane) Bradley, Jackie Bease, Vicki Aldridge; step-siblings, Richard Grasser, Lisa Heitner, Missy Simon; like a sister, Terra (Tim) Bates; and other loving family and friends.

She will be reunited in heaven with husband, Larry Malz; son, James Malz; parents; brother, John Grasser.