MERRI DORDAL

Merri Wayne (Matheny) Dordal, of Stanchfield, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. She was 81 years old.

Merri graduated from Anoka High School as salutatorian of her class in 1962. As an accomplished student who was always willing to help her classmates, she was well-liked, had many friends, participated in the school theater program, and served as a homecoming court attendant. She also helped out at her father’s grocery store, Matheny’s Ferry Street Market.
She then attended University of Minnesota where she earned her teaching degree and began her career in elementary education. 

Her first teaching job was in Westby, a small town in Northeastern Montana. Much to her father's concern, she packed up her Pontiac LeMans and journeyed forth on this new adventure. Her grandmother, Amy, whom she loved very much, would come to visit her often.

Merri formed strong connections within the local community in Montana. Smart, up-and-coming teachers didn't commonly relocate to that area at the time, and the residents wanted to be sure she felt welcome. At one point, her school class, recognizing that she may be lonely, presented Merri with her first kitten, Mr. Springfield.

Upon returning to Minnesota, she taught another ten years at Mississippi elementary school in Anoka.  During her initial years in education, Merri developed a tremendous talent for teaching all people (and especially first and second grade students) how to read. It was around this time that Merri was out with a friend at a local establishment, the Smuggler's Inn, and Keith, a young, unemployed man with a broken ankle walked up and asked her to dance. Keith and Merri later got married and lived for a few years in the metro area, where they had their son.  After some time, Keith decided to start his own business. They subsequently moved back up north to the area where Keith grew up and built a home in Stanchfield, MN. Merri later returned to teaching for a time in the Cambridge school district because she wanted to help her son pay for college.

In most recent years, Merri reveled in her retirement, spending time on the couch with her Boston Terrier puppy, Peggy Sue, reading new books by independent authors, indulging in the occasional glass of white zinfandel, and enjoying the company of her husband, son, and daughter-in-law.

She will be remembered as an exceptionally smart, well-spoken, kind, loving, fiercely loyal friend whose greatest joys were her family, dogs, and teaching people how to read.

Merri is preceded in death by her parents William and June (Butts) Matheny, father and mother-in-law Jerome and Josephine Dordal, brothers-in-law Alton and Lynn Dordal.

She is survived by her husband Keith; son William (Victoria); brothers and sisters-in-law, Steve (Carol) Dordal, Gene (Jackie) Dordal, Dale Dordal, Mary (Mark) Anderson, and Karen (Tim) Harmsen; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Stanchfield Baptist Church.

Memorial Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

A meal and time of fellowship will immediately follow the service at church.

A private family inurnment will be in the Cedar Cemetery in Cedar, Minnesota.

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