Dorothy A. Basgall

Dorothy A. Basgall, 77, of Mason City, died Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. A funeral mass will be held 10:30 AM Monday at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 302 5th Street SE with Rev. Craig Steimel officiating. Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Memorials may be directed to the North Iowa Humane Society in celebration of her dog, Alphie, who brought great joy and comfort following Joes death or Hospice of North Iowa
Dorothy was born April 6, 1931, to Silas and Elma (Jenkins) Edwards in Fertile, Iowa. She grew up in the Kensett and Manly area, attending school primarily at Manly. During her high school years she was a forward on the girls basketball team. She had fond memories of the year they played in the Girls State basketball tournament. She was also prom queen during her junior year. She worked at JC Pennys for 23 years, managing the shoe department and later working in the mens department.
In 1984 she converted to Catholicism, and was a member of Saint Josephs Catholic Church in Mason City.
She married Joseph John Basgall on September 9, 1949 in Glenville, Minnesota. Joe preceded her in death on November 9, 1988. Dorothy and Joe loved to travel and made several trips to California to visit Joes daughter, Diane and brother, Jake. Prior to Joes death in 1988, the couple was planning a California coastal drive to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.
Dorothy had a love for life and worked hard at not taking herself too seriously. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh with family and friends, which was evident throughout her courageous battle with cancer this past year. She was an avid walker, golfer, bowler, card players, and bingo player. Most days she would fit in two or more of these activities. Those that knew her know that she did not know the meaning of the word moderation. She participated in the Run, Walk, and Wag for cure along with her daughter, Vickey, granddaughter, Billie, and granddog, Truffle, in June of 2008. She had a love of coffee and chocolate and no day was complete until she had each one.

Left to cherish her memory includes her children: David Basgall, Mason City, Vickey Basgall, Mason City, her brother, Arlyn TuppyEdwards, Mason City, her stepdaughter, Diane (Ray) Reynolds, Newhall, California; grandchildren; Billie (Jimmy) Dalgish of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Tracy Starkey of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Jeffrey Basgall of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Michael (Amelia) Basgall of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Robin (Roger) Douglas of Summerville, South Carolina; five great-grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Basgall in 1988, parents, Silas and Elma Edwards, and an infant brother.