Dolores Jean Korsmo

Dolores was born on January 9, 1932, in Valley City, North Dakota, to the proud parents of Fred and Annie Gast. She was raised in Valley City where she attended elementary, high school, and college. She started her teaching career at the young age of 19 in Northwood, North Dakota, where she eventually met and dated Richard Korsmo. They were married on August 10, 1954, in Valley City with parents and family in attendance.

Richard and Dolores lived in Northwood after they were married while Richard was in the military. Jim, their son, was born in 1957 while they were living in Northwood. Shortly after, they moved to Wahpeton, ND, where Dolores substitute taught and Richard attended school. They ended up in Aberdeen, SD, when they settled down to begin their careers and raise their family. Their daughter, Lori, was born in Aberdeen in 1960. Dolores began her employment with the Aberdeen Public School System just after moving to Aberdeen and continued there until they moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1981. After arriving in Arizona, Dolores taught for the Maricopa County School District. She spent the first half of her career in Arizona teaching at Williams Air Force Base and the remainder at the homeless school in downtown Phoenix, from where she retired in 1998 at the age of 66. With time off to raise her own two children, Dolores spent an amazing 40 years teaching.

Dolores enjoyed traveling with her family throughout her life. One of her more recent favorite places was going to San Diego and walking along the beach, gathering sand dollars as she walked. Dolores also enjoyed watching sports, especially the Suns and Diamondbacks, and gathering with the family and cooking.

Dolores is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Richard Korsmo; son Jim (Barb) Korsmo, daughter Lori (Thom-deceased) Chapman, and granddaughter Alexis Chapman. She is proceeded in passing by all of her brothers, sisters, and parents. Dolores will be truly missed by all of her family and friends.

A visitation will be take place at Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care; 400 S Power Road; Mesa, Arizona 85206; on Sunday, March 2, 2014, from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock; and Memorial Service at Trinity Church, Myra Chapel; 2130 East University; Mesa, Arizona 85213; on Monday, March 3, 2014, at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. A reception will follow the service at Trinity in Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at Mariposa Gardens at a later time with a private family service. To view this announcement online and leave a personal message for the family, please visit the Mariposa Gardens website; www.mariposagardens.com.

If you feel the desire to make a donation to a charity in Dolores’s name, the family would like to suggest that memorials be sent to the Phoenix Dream Center, a place that was very dear to hers and Richard’s heart. The Address is: 3210 NW Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85017. The phone is 602-346-8700 and the website is www.phxdreamcenter.org.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for all of the prayers and support that has been provided during this difficult period of time.

FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CAREER