Dolores "Dodie" Jean Virtanen VanDeventer

Dolores “Dodie” Jean VanDeventer nee Virtanen, age 79; after a long and difficult battle with cancer, to which she fought tirelessly against, Dodie succumbed to the disease June 21st, 2025. She was born in Hancock, Houghton, MI. Born the 7th out of 10 siblings, to Frank Virtanen and Kathrine Virtanen (nee) LaPine. She grew up in the small community of Chassel, MI where she eventually attended Houghton High. She had 3 children Lisa, Lynette, and Mark to her first husband David “Dave” Kilpela. Then she met her love of 47 years Wilfred “Bill” VanDeventer, they were married April 26th, 1978. With that marriage she gained 4 sons Wilfred III, Ted, David, and Ed to which she also cared for. Dodie traveled with her husband as he worked on powerlines around the United States. As she traveled she always made friends along the way, she was a charismatic woman full of life and humor, wherever she went laughter followed. As life when on she gained more and more family through her children, she had 8 grandchildren Seda, Leyla, Kayce, Christopher, Gary, Calliope, Kayla, and Jesse; 11 great-grands David, Carolyn, Ramone, Katrina, Brantley, Kieran, Alyssa, Sabrina, Angelica, Ezekiel, and Eliana; and even 3 great-great-grandchildren Delilah, Rhiannon, and most recently Oaklynn. She had much more family she adored. Dodie’s family was one of her biggest accomplishments, to which she often reminded everyone. Dodie was a bright woman, she loved to read and have conversations about all sorts of things, often entertaining her grandchildren’s rambling. After a life of traveling, she settled in Foley, AL where she often enjoyed the beach and the ocean. She remained in Foley, AL through the rest of her life. She is preceded in death by her father Frank Virtanten, mother Kathrine Virtanen (nee) LaPine, siblings Areila, Francis “Franny”, Carol, Gertrude “Gert”, Kathryn “Kay”, Melvin, Gerald “Jerry”, Marilyn, and Son Mark Kilpela. She is succeeded in death by her husband Wilfred “Bill” VanDeventer, brother Chuck Virtanten, and daughters Lisa Kilpela-Sengul (Mehmet), and Lynnette Brown.

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