Kathleen Ann Dodge, 74, of Rochester passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus.
Kathy was born August 22, 1950, in Minneapolis, MN to Fred and Irene (Drumbeater) Blessing. She grew up in Bloomington, MN attending John F. Kennedy High School, loving art and creating many beautiful paintings. Later attending Winona State University, Rochester Campus, receiving her B.S. in Social Services all while raising her four children and enjoying her career in Human Services helping people at MSOCS. In 1968, Kathy married Curtis Dodge at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, and they had two children, Beth and Michael. After their divorce, Kathy had two children, Jeff and John with Bryon Carlson. Finding warm companionship with Randy Webber in her final years.
Kathy loved most being with her family and friends, especially her grandson Kevin. She loved her best friend Chris Drewes as a sister. Thank you Chris for giving us the gift and blessing of so much more time with our Mom, we will be forever grateful to you! She loved gardening, fishing, gambling, traveling, garage sales and Goodwill shopping, her dogs, and a nice Bacardi Coke. Enjoying most in watching her two youngest boys playing sports when they were young. Her greatest devotion was to her children. And us to her. Her given Ojibwe name is “Walking Lady” and she enjoyed a good powwow.
Kathy is survived by her children, Beth (Kevin) Tostenson of Rochester, Michael (Loretta) Dodge of Rochester, Jeff (Alaina) Carlson of Plainview, John Carlson of Plainview, grandchildren, Kevin Tostenson Jr, Shauna Dodge, Sierra Learmont, Michael Learmont, Cody Bale, Wyatt Dahle, many great-grandchildren, siblings, Larry (Carol Wood) Blessing, John (Lynne) Blessing, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Fred K. and Irene C. Blessing, sisters-in-law Verna Blessing and Betty Blessing.
