June Kathryn (Riley) Dowden

June Kathryn Dowden, 89, of Northfield, MN passed away peacefully after a long battle with melanoma on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Northfield Retirement Center in Northfield, MN.

June was born February 17, 1934 in Chippewa Falls, WI; daughter of Eugene and Helen (Everson) Riley. She graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1952. June married Darrell Dowden on September 7, 1954 in Mondovi.  The couple lived in several communities early in their careers including Cameron and Chetek Wisconsin, Salt Lake City, Utah, Eugene, Oregon, and Garden City Kansas before returning north to Ely Minnesota where they lived for over 25  years. They raised four children while both working, Darrell in education and June in various professions including health care, food service and finally as an insurance agent in Tower Minnesota where their four children graduated from high school. June and Darrell then retired to Fairchild Wisconsin to be near family.

When Darrell passed in 2021, June moved back to Minnesota to be near her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all the lights of her life.

June is survived by her children, Julie (Tim) Gallagher, Helene (Dave) Johnson, Barbara (John) Mann, Dean (Tammie) Dowden, 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren,

June is preceded in death by her parents, and husband.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Kjentvet-Smith Funeral Home in Mondovi, WI with Chaplain Gary Preston officiating. Visitation will one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will take place privately at Mound Cemetery in Downing, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota would be welcomed.

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