Obituary for Vonice Marlene McDougall (Dobson)
Vonice McDougall, 86, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, April 13, 2023, two days prior to her 87th birthday. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at The United Methodist Church of Le Mars. Rev. Jason Larson will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church.
Vonice Marlene Dobson was born on April 15, 1936, in Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Lemuel and Inez (Galland) Dobson. She was baptized in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was raised alongside seven brothers and one sister. The family moved from Denison, Iowa, to Beaver Creek, Minnesota, Luverne, Minnesota, and Lester, Iowa, before settling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Vonice graduated from Washington High School in 1954 and then took a position at Sioux Valley Hospital as a Comptroller. When her mother’s health declined, Vonice moved to Le Mars, Iowa, to help her family operate the Dobson Food Center. While working at the store, she met her future husband, Doug McDougall. They were united in marriage November 26, 1959.
Doug and Vonice farmed and raised their children on the McDougall family farm north of Le Mars. During this time, she became an active member of the United Methodist Church of LeMars. Along with farming and caring for her family, Vonice was a Cub Scout leader. She had a flair for entertaining family and friends along with cooking, sewing, collecting and refinishing antiques. She cherished the time spent with family and friends at the cabin on West Lake Okoboji. Vonice and Doug enjoyed winter trips to Arizona and Florida with her in-laws Janice and Dave Petry.
Grateful to have shared her life is her husband, Doug McDougall of Le Mars, IA; her sons Shayne (Helena) of LeMars, IA; Brent (Cathy) of Chadds Ford, PA; Miles (Jenna) of LeMars; her daughter Tiffani (Josh) Edmonds of North Liberty, IA; grandchildren, Jeremy (Cassie) McDougall, Devon (Liz) McDougall all of Le Mars, IA, Erica (Josh) Wilson of Albert Lea, MN, Jama Hemme (Jay) Christopherson of Vermillion, SD and Bryce (Kari) Hemme of Ankeny, IA; Cameron McDougall of Washington, D.C. and Collin McDougall of Chadds Ford, PA; Paige McDougall of Brookings, SD and Hannah McDougall of Phoenix, AZ; Barrett Edmonds and Rex Edmonds both of North Liberty, IA, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Wendy Borgstrand of O’Fallon, IL; sister-in-laws, Linda Dobson and Betty Dobson both of Sioux Falls, SD; in-laws, Bill (Dee) McDougall, Dick (Pat) McDougall, Nick (Donna) McDougall, Denny (Lynne) McDougall, Mark (Jeannie) McDougall, Janice (Dave) Petry, Edythe (Gene) Swanson; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Quinn Marie; brothers, Lemuel James (Phyllis) Dobson, Georgie (Zella) Dobson, Bernard (Ruby) Dobson, Frederick Dobson, Gaylord Dobson (in infancy), Phalyn Dobson and Larry Dobson; in-laws Jim (Yvonne) McDougall, Mabel (Bud) Scholer, and Erlene McDougall.
The family wishes to thank and direct memorials to St. Croix Hospice.
Vonice Marlene Dobson was born on April 15, 1936, in Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Lemuel and Inez (Galland) Dobson. She was baptized in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was raised alongside seven brothers and one sister. The family moved from Denison, Iowa, to Beaver Creek, Minnesota, Luverne, Minnesota, and Lester, Iowa, before settling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Vonice graduated from Washington High School in 1954 and then took a position at Sioux Valley Hospital as a Comptroller. When her mother’s health declined, Vonice moved to Le Mars, Iowa, to help her family operate the Dobson Food Center. While working at the store, she met her future husband, Doug McDougall. They were united in marriage November 26, 1959.
Doug and Vonice farmed and raised their children on the McDougall family farm north of Le Mars. During this time, she became an active member of the United Methodist Church of LeMars. Along with farming and caring for her family, Vonice was a Cub Scout leader. She had a flair for entertaining family and friends along with cooking, sewing, collecting and refinishing antiques. She cherished the time spent with family and friends at the cabin on West Lake Okoboji. Vonice and Doug enjoyed winter trips to Arizona and Florida with her in-laws Janice and Dave Petry.
Grateful to have shared her life is her husband, Doug McDougall of Le Mars, IA; her sons Shayne (Helena) of LeMars, IA; Brent (Cathy) of Chadds Ford, PA; Miles (Jenna) of LeMars; her daughter Tiffani (Josh) Edmonds of North Liberty, IA; grandchildren, Jeremy (Cassie) McDougall, Devon (Liz) McDougall all of Le Mars, IA, Erica (Josh) Wilson of Albert Lea, MN, Jama Hemme (Jay) Christopherson of Vermillion, SD and Bryce (Kari) Hemme of Ankeny, IA; Cameron McDougall of Washington, D.C. and Collin McDougall of Chadds Ford, PA; Paige McDougall of Brookings, SD and Hannah McDougall of Phoenix, AZ; Barrett Edmonds and Rex Edmonds both of North Liberty, IA, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Wendy Borgstrand of O’Fallon, IL; sister-in-laws, Linda Dobson and Betty Dobson both of Sioux Falls, SD; in-laws, Bill (Dee) McDougall, Dick (Pat) McDougall, Nick (Donna) McDougall, Denny (Lynne) McDougall, Mark (Jeannie) McDougall, Janice (Dave) Petry, Edythe (Gene) Swanson; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Quinn Marie; brothers, Lemuel James (Phyllis) Dobson, Georgie (Zella) Dobson, Bernard (Ruby) Dobson, Frederick Dobson, Gaylord Dobson (in infancy), Phalyn Dobson and Larry Dobson; in-laws Jim (Yvonne) McDougall, Mabel (Bud) Scholer, and Erlene McDougall.
The family wishes to thank and direct memorials to St. Croix Hospice.