In Benson, Minnesota, Dorothy Williams has long been known as a quiet force, someone who sees what needs to be done and simply begins doing it. For decades, Dorothy devoted her time, energy, and heart to improving the lives of others, especially older adults. Through her deep involvement with the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund at Southwest Initiative Foundation, Dorothy’s legacy reflects the very spirit of the fund’s mission: to maximize the social and economic contributions of older adults throughout Southwest Minnesota by keeping them well and engaged in community life.
That mission has deep local roots. Paul and Alma Schwan, whose entrepreneurial beginnings in Marshall helped shape Southwest Minnesota, built more than a successful business; they helped foster a culture of community investment and care. Dorothy’s work embodied that same spirit of dedication. Her efforts have touched nearly every corner of Swift County and the surrounding area’s senior services.
At age 55, Dorothy began her “second career” after raising her three kids with her beloved husband, Ron. She instantly found a connection with older adults through her work as the Swift County Senior Citizens Advocate, organizing programs and events across the county. Dorothy focused on one goal: making life better for older adults in her community. She learned that to make extracurriculars happen for the residents, she needed to collaborate and ask for assistance by writing grant applications. This is how she discovered the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund.
One of Dorothy’s favorite projects was organizing the Swift County Writing Club, where members wrote stories from their memories growing up in rural Minnesota. Thanks to a grant from the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund, the stories were published in a book, “Just Remembering,” and distributed to local nursing homes and senior living centers. “A special moment for me was meeting Alma and giving her a book of stories that the writing club wrote. I even got a picture with her, which was such an honor,” Dorothy said. “The support we received from the Aging Trust Fund was so important to making things happen.”
In 2001, Dorothy’s contributions were formally recognized when she received the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund Ten-Year Anniversary Award. The honor was given to just 10 individuals across an 18-county region who championed the mission of the fund; awardees were selected for their leadership, innovation, collaboration, and philanthropy. Then, in 2003, she was selected as the recipient of the Southwest Minnesota Foundation Award for making extraordinary contributions to the Southwest Minnesota area. Dorothy continued her important work until she retired in 2006.
After decades of being by Dorothy’s side and supporting her work, Ron passed away in 2023. At 92 years young, Dorothy enjoys living in a senior living community where she regularly participates in group activities and enjoys chatting with neighbors. She loves to look at the scrapbook she made that documents her time working with older adults and volunteering with the Aging Trust Fund.
In many ways, Dorothy Williams represents the living continuation of the Schwan legacy. Just as Alma and Paul Schwan built something enduring by blending entrepreneurship with community care, Dorothy has built something equally meaningful. Her work demonstrates that lasting change often grows from steady, consistent service—one program, one collaboration and one relationship at a time.
“Now, I’m one of the old people,” Dorothy said. “I’ve loved living in Benson, and now it’s time for the next generation to keep this community a great place.”
In Benson and beyond, Dorothy’s story serves as a reminder: communities thrive when individuals step forward, invest in one another, and believe that every stage of life holds value. Through her work with the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund, she has helped ensure that Southwest Minnesota remains a place where older adults are celebrated, supported, and empowered to keep contributing. Dorothy has also been a consistent donor to the Aging Trust Fund, making annual donations to the fund for more than 26 years.
“Whether you give your time, money, or talent, it’s important to support what you care about in this world,” Dorothy said.
History of the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund
In 1990, Marvin Schwan of Schwan’s Company endowed the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund as a lasting tribute to his parents. Paul and Alma Schwan had visions of a healthy future for southwest Minnesota, and the fund that bears their name is dedicated to preserving that vision of prosperity for the region. Southwest Initiative Foundation hosts the Aging Trust Fund, managing its endowment and directing its use.
Additional donations from caring community members and investment returns have resulted in more than three decades of positive impact for our aging rural population. This permanent asset of the foundation is a vital resource as we create vibrant communities that actively involve, value and support older adults.
Make a gift to support productive aging in Southwest Minnesota.