Dorothea Frieda (Bents) Jirsa, 83, of Oakdale, MN, passed away on January 25, 2026 at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood MN unexpectedly and from natural causes.

Born on May 30, 1942 in Comstock Wisconsin to Evert and Christine (Cordes) Bents. She graduated from Cumberland High School in 1960 and went on to earn an education degree from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Dorothea was a lifelong musician and educator. After teaching for a few years in Reedsville and Turtle Lake Wisconsin, she moved to Germany and taught at several U.S. Army bases. Upon returning from Germany, she met Paul. They moved to North St. Paul shortly after getting married in 1976 and she took a job for the local school district 622 where she taught language arts and general music for 39 years. During that time, and for many years after she retired from her teaching career, Dorothea devoted her musical talents to St Mark’s Church. As a part-time organist, children’s choir director, and vocalist in the choir, her contributions to the various music and worship programs over the years are too numerous to count. She was always involved with her church community and instrumental in driving several major improvements such as the fundraising committee for the pipe organ that now resides in the “new” sanctuary at St Mark’s.

Dorothea is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Karen McCullough and brother Gary Bents. She is survived by her husband, Paul, children, Phillip Jirsa (Susan Haller) and Christine Jirsa (Brian Aamot), brothers Gerard Bents (Marcy) and Ralph Bents (Carol).

A visitation will be held on Friday February 20th at Sandberg Funeral Home in North St. Paul, MN from 5-7pm. Funeral services will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in North St. Paul, MN on February 21st with visitation and fellowship at 10am and funeral service starting at 11am. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to:

St Mark’s Lutheran Church Foundation of North Saint Paul https://www.stmarksnspfoundation.com/

OR

The American Heart Association https://www.heart.org

OR

Minnesota Music Educators Association Mission & Vision – Minnesota Music Educators Association