Dorothy Agnes Potter, 99, of Sweet Home, Oregon entered the loving embrace of our Lord on January 10, 2018, sixteen days before her 100th birthday.

She was born in Wabasso, Minnesota at her grandmother’s home. She was the youngest of John T. and Nancy A (Smith) Hollenbeck’s children. She joined two brothers, Glen and William, and three sisters, Viola, Luella, and Mary. The family lived on their homestead southwest of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota with all the children attending both country schools and high school in Sentinel Butte.

Dorothy graduated in 1935 and, two years later, moved to Bellingham, Washington with her sister, Mary. In 1940, the girls moved to Ketchikan, Alaska for the summer, and, there, she met the love of her life, Charles Potter. They were married in 1942 and lived in Ketchikan for their 47 years of marriage.

In 1952, they took in a family of four foster children, Michael, William, Janey and David Johansen, that they raised as their own. Dorothy loved being a stay-at-home mom when they were young. She was always grateful God gave her this opportunity. Her greatest love was that she was able to raise the four children to be mature and responsible adults. She enjoyed cooking, embroidering, gardening, and homemaking.

Prior to the children becoming a part of their lives, Dorothy worked as a manager in the Montgomery Ward Credit Department. After the children were grown, she worked as a manager of the Ketchikan Pulp Company Credit Union.

The family lived on the coast and enjoyed boating, camping, fishing, and just being active in the wonderment of Alaska.

Dorothy remained at her home in Ketchikan until moving to Sweet Home in 2005 to be with her sister, Mary. She resided at Wiley Creek Retirement Community since that time. Both she and Mary enjoyed praising their Lord at the Mennonite Church in Sweet Home.

Her foster children, William and David Johansen, nieces Karen May, Dottie May, and Mary Jane Olesen and Viola Schillo, nephew Pete Wilson, and numerous grandnieces, nephews, and friends will miss the pleasure of her smile, the twinkle in her eye, her quick wit, and her positive attitude.

Dorothy is joining her husband, Charles Potter; foster children Michael Johansen and Janey Smith; parents John T. and Nancy A. Hollenbeck; brothers Glen and William Hollenbeck; and sisters Viola Wilson, Luella May, and Mary DeLong in the loving arms of our Lord.

A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 27, at Wiley Creek Community. Services will be officiated by Pastor Pete Kauffman of the Sweet Home Mennonite Church.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.