SuzAnn D. Tarvin, age 98 of Eden Prairie, formerly of Bloomington, St. Louis Park and Richfield, passed away July 9, 2026. Memorial Service at 2 PM on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls. Visitation 1 hour prior to service. Memorials preferred to Richfield United Methodist Church or charity of your choice. The service will be live streamed on the church youtube channel. Click here to watch.
SuzAnn Dobie Tarvin was born during a blizzard on December 8, 1927, to Joseph J. and G. Luverne (McGregor) Dobie, at Mankato, MN. Snow was falling on the morning of December 8, 1927, so her parents rode the train from their home in Mapleton to Mankato, where the nearest hospital was located. Upon arrival in Mankato, her mother had to walk from the train station up a long, very steep hill to reach the hospital. Baby SuzAnn was born a short time later!
SuzAnn grew up in Mapleton, MN. In her memoirs, she remembered the Dobie family home. She reminisced, “You could say we were crowded but I like to remember it as being close.” SuzAnn attended Mapleton Schools where she was a good student, graduating in 1945. SuzAnn never strayed from her desire for a nursing career. After high school, she enrolled in the Cadet Nurse Corps at the University of MN. The Federal Government paid her tuition, books and living expenses. In return, students committed to serve until the conclusion of WW2. SuzAnn graduated from the University of MN on June 12, 1948. Following graduation, she worked at Miller Hospital in St. Paul until her commitment was completed. In 1951, SuzAnn began work at Memorial Blood Center in Minneapolis. She was a staff RN at Memorial Blood Center for more than 30 years, retiring in 1989.
In the fall of 1951, a co-worker invited SuzAnn to a Canasta party. There she met her husband, Ralph Tarvin. SuzAnn & Ralph were married April 4, 1953, at Le Sueur, MN. The newlyweds lived in Kansas City, St. Louis and St. Paul, before settling in Richfield. SuzAnn remembered the busy years when she and Ralph were raising their 4 children in this way, “Life at 7309 Oakland was a complete juggling act. We had birthday parties, family gatherings and activities at church and with friends. Mountains of laundry and food filled each week. When I look back, I don’t know how it all worked out, but for me it was a wonderful time”. Travel was always important to SuzAnn & Ralph. In 1966, they purchased a small travel trailer. Many enjoyable trips and weekend camp outs with their family followed over the years. Retirement provided SuzAnn and Ralph the opportunity to plan more trips! They enjoyed many Elderhostel programs, Tarvin Association Family Reunions and cross-country trips. Traveling the US and Europe enriched their lives.
After Ralph’s passing in 2013, SuzAnn thought it was important to “remain productive”. She filled her life with knitting for family and charities, Bible Studies, reading, church activities, attending plays and concerts and many other activities with family and friends. In July 2023, SuzAnn moved to assisted living at LuAnn’s Place in Eden Prairie. She was grateful for the loving care and kindness extended to her by LuAnn’s staff and the companionship of her housemates. Her strength has amazed us. It has been our privilege to accompany Mom on her journey. She will be very dearly missed. May God bless her memory.
SuzAnn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ralph; parents, Joseph & Luverne Dobie; grandson, Bryan Ingebrand; brother, JM Dobie, sister-in-law, Mary Dobie, and brothers-in-law, Paul Petersen and John Hinsverk. She is survived by her sisters Marlys Hinsverk and Marilyn Petersen; children, Jane (Michael) Ingebrand, Jean (Douglas) Dockter, Joseph Tarvin (Robyn Moore), Joan (James) Berglund; grandchildren, Michael (Anelisse) Ingebrand, Joe Ingebrand (Claudia Mora), Chris (Lindsey) Dockter, Justin (Kim) Dockter, Peter (Hilary) Tarvin, Sarah Tarvin, Emily Berglund (Brock Hoover), Laura (Trevor) Berkley, Carissa (John) Veit; great-grandchildren, Theja and Lanah Ingebrand, Sophie Mora, Addison, Autumn and Liam Dockter, Layne SuzAnn and Zeke Berkley, Maryam, Abigail, Kelly and James Veit. Many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends also survive.
Oh my goodness, SuzAnn will be deeply missed. We are so thankful to the Berglund family for sharing her with us. The holidays were always such a wonderful time to laugh with her and play the occasional game of Bananagrams! She was a hoot! We are thinking of your whole family and sending our deepest condolences and many hugs.
I was sorry to read about your mother’s passing . My name is Kay Thomes. My mother was Mylis Zander. She worked with SuzAnn many years on the War Memorial Blood Bank’s Bloodmobiles. They were very good friends. I especially remember the story of them meeting on a PTA meeting night in the hall of East Richfield Junior High and exclaiming Mylis I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on!
Dear SuzAnn’s family,
My name is Betty Schuur (formerly Mangold) and I worked with SuzAnn at War Memorial Blood Bank. She was alway kind and pleasant. Thinking of her makes me smile; her kindness is not forgotten.
Judith James says:
I work PT at LuAnn’s Place where I met SuzAnn and quickly grew to love her. Her quick wit and gentle disposition made her a favorite with the residents and staff. Her card playing (Kings Corners) was focused and fun. She won a lot of games.
She knit many lovely dish clothes in a rainbow of colors. When she had me choose one, I told her I was going to have it framed and she could sign and date it for me on the back of the frame.
I took it to a frame shop to have done professionally. It took some time to select the proper frame and matting. When it was finished and ready for pick up, I was quite pleased with the result and could hardly wait to show SuzAnn and have the artist sign her work. She too admired the beauty of her dish cloth in the lovely frame. I never told her how surprised I was when I got the bill for $250.00. It is on the wall in my family room. It truly is a treasure ❤️ just like SuzAnn. Rest in Peace.