Dorothy Hatfield

Dorothy Jane “Dot” Hatfield went to be with her Lord Jesus on February 11, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer.  She was born on January 11, 1938, to Axel and Leola Torgerson and grew up near West Lima, WI.  As an only child living and working with her parents on a farm, she learned the lessons of hard work, patience, and faith.  These attributes were displayed as she faced the joys and trials of life.  She graduated in 1956 from West Lima High School and began working at Richland Center Hospital while attending Normal College.  On December 15, 1956, she married Theron Sherwood (Jug) Hatfield.  Their lifelong adventure began shortly thereafter when they drove to Alaska and lived there while Jug was serving in the Army at Fort Richardson.  They so loved their time there and told stories of their adventures to their children for years to come.  They were able to return to Alaska for 6 weeks for their 40th Anniversary and loved their time there together.  They were blessed with 4 children, Lyle, Tim, Angela, and Amy.  Family time was so important to them, and they took many memorable vacations with their children as well as time spent camping around Wisconsin.  Dorothy worked as a nurse’s aide at Central Colony and then with General Telephone company from which she took early retirement in 1992.  Upon retirement, Dorothy and Jug moved back to their roots, building their dream house on a hill outside of LaFarge, Wisconsin where they lived for the next 20 years. It was a special place where they enjoyed sharing the beauty of God’s creation with others, especially their kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.  When they were no longer able to make the climb up the big hill, they moved back to DeForest, living at Parkside Village and reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.  

Dorothy and Jug raised their family in the DeForest area and attended the DeForest Christian Faith Moravian Church and later the LaFarge United Methodist Church.  Church life was important to them, and they served in so many capacities and touched more lives than they were even aware of.  She was known to many as that “sweet lady” who loved others openly.  She was known for her potato salad, apple pies, and angel food birthday cake with snow on the mountain frosting.  She was also known for sending greeting cards to everyone for special events.  Dorothy’s faith in God, assurance of her salvation through Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit were made evident through how she lived.  She taught us all by example that serving others is both a responsibility and a gift.  We are certain she was greeted by Jesus saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Jug in 2015, and is survived by her children Lyle and Laura Hatfield, Tim and Laura Hatfield, Keith and Angela Hoekman, David and Amy Pahl.  She is further survived by her grandchildren Luke (Mikaela) Hatfield, John (Nicki) Hatfield, Amy (Aaron) Grabowski, Karen (Nate) Winter, Jared (Katelyn) Pahl, Micah (Amy) Rahn, Jordan Rahn, and Bethany (Kyle) Rahn; as well as 13 beloved great-grandchildren and precious nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Ryan Funeral Home, Windsor/DeForest Chapel, 6924 Lake Road.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  A private interment will take place at a later date at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Richland County, WI.

The family would like to thank Agrace and Brighton Hospice as well as the wonderful caregivers at Parkside Assisted Living.  We also appreciate the support of all of her wonderful friends including those at the DeForest Moravian Church, and especially Kay Kinderman.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the DeForest Christian Faith Moravian Church.

To view Dorothy’s obituary, or to leave a memory, please visit:  www.ryanfuneralservice.com.