Dorothy Wood Krause

Dorothy Wood Krause passed away on Saturday, May 10th, 2025, surrounded by family and extended family of the residents of Woodland Terrace Senior Living Center in Cary, North Carolina. Dorothy is survived by her husband, Mike, son Lincoln (Margaret), and daughter Maureen (Bill Horak), and her grandchildren Matthew and Michael Krause and Kay Horak. In addition, she is survived by a sister, Della Peterson, and a brother, David Wood.

Dorothy grew up in a large family of ten brothers and sisters in rural Wilkin County, Minnesota. She attended a one room schoolhouse. She moved to Breckinridge in the eighth grade and graduated as a salutatorian of her high school class. Her yearbook shows her as an accomplished and popular leader of her class, and the editor of the yearbook.

Dorothy met and married Mike, who was on his way to becoming an Army officer. They married in 1956, and she became the consummate army officer's wife. They were to spend the next sixty-eight years loving and laughing in a beautiful relationship. She supported Mike through his twenty-six-year army career and raised two spectacular children despite frequent moves and long separations. Dorothy was awarded the Order of Saint Barbara at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for her work with new Army wives and foreign-born wives. During her travels with Mike, she bought and sold seven houses. She later became a real estate broker, a job that she loved and was very successful in three different states. She was the perfect hostess and best friend to many. She had a ready smile and winning personality that charmed everyone she met. Dorothy loved to host parties and became known as the dessert queen. Dorothy loved to dance and her friends in Woodland Terrace admired her skills and grace on the dance floor. She grew up in the Methodist church, and after twenty-seven years of army chapels and teaching Sunday school in three different army posts, Dorothy returned to her Methodist church where she remained until she could no longer attend services.

Mike and his family thank the residents of Woodland Terrace for their continued kindness to Dorothy through her ten years at the Cary facility where she was loved and cared for. Your warmth and kindness shined through even the darkest day, and we are very grateful. We also thank Lucy and Stephenie, her two primary caregivers, during her last months. Their kindness, professionalism, and care for Dorothy are gratefully appreciated.

A visitation will be held Friday, May 16th, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Macedonia United Methodist Church, 2700 Jones Franklin Rd, Cary, NC 27518.

A service will follow the visitation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below with "Add a Memory."