Catherine Ann "Cathe" Finkelson

Catherine Ann Finkelson, age 63, of Dalton, died Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, surrounded by her family.

Catherine was born on July 19, 1952, to Vincent and Marilyn (Forberg) O’Meara in Fergus Falls. She attended grade school at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1970.

On July 10, 1971, Cathe married Elroy Finkelson in Fergus Falls. Cathe held many jobs including owning and operating the Dalton Café from 1976 to 1983, and the Snack Shack in Ashby from 1989 to 1996. Prior to joining the Fergus Falls Medical Group in 2004, Cathe held many food service jobs including, Catholic Charities, the Becker County Jail, the Otter Tail County Jail and Ashby Public School. She retired in 2014 due to health issues.

Cathe was well known as an excellent cook. Every dish she created was “dripping with flavor” and new dishes were termed “our new favorite.” Food was her passion and desire and she took great care to serve every meal with love and perfection. Cathe will always be remembered for her amazing lefse, BBQ ribs, prime rib, potato salad, party potatoes and many baked goods. She also enjoyed going to the casino, catching walleyes and spending time with her family at Ten Mile Lake. Cathe truly believed that she would catch more walleyes if she took the time to get “dolled up” before going fishing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and Marilyn O’Meara; and her brothers, Brian and John O’Meara.

Cathe is survived by her husband of forty-four years, Elroy Finkelson of Dalton; her children, Scott (Joy) Finkelson of Avon, Tyler (Becca) Finkelson of Delano, Todd (Brit) Finkelson of Ashby, Jolene (Wyatt) Johnson of Moorhead, and Joel (Melissa) Finkelson of Dalton; her grandchildren, Anthony Greinke, Hannah and Connor Finkelson, Grace and Gavin Popp, Emme Finkelson, Grant, Vince, Olive and Milton Finkelson, Rylie, Brooklynn, and Camryn Johnson, Natalie Hohman and Soren Finkelson; her sisters, Mary (Darwin) Carda and Trisha (Curt) Eide; her brothers, Edward (Donna) O’Meara and James (Wendy) O’Meara; her brothers-in-law, Charles Finkelson, Rodney (Nadine) Finkelson, and Soren Knutson; her sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Reuben) Johansen, Judy (Paul) Sonmor, Joni (Dennis) Mosher and Bonnie (Corky) Mark; aunt, Kay Schwarz and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Memorials are preferred to the Zion Cemetery Monument Fund.

Visitation: 5:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at the Olson Funeral Home, with a public prayer service at 6:30 PM. Visitation will resume 1hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 14, 2016, at Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church in Dalton
Clergy: Reverends Mark Johnson and Dan Hurner
Interment: Zion Cemetery in Dalton
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN