Dixie Faye (Laws) Carlson Gottsch was born December 11, 1937, in Curlew, Iowa to Herbert L. and Evelyn R. (Snook) Laws. She died September 5, 2025, at age 87 at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Dixie was raised on a farm near Webb, Iowa and was active in 4H, music, and sports. She played basketball and kittenball (softball) in high school. Dixie graduated from Webb in 1955, then attended Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa and made many lifelong friends. After graduation, she accepted a teaching job in Pocahontas in 1957. She met and married Eugene D. Carlson on July 18, 1959. Their only child Keri Lynne was born on September 5, 1960. After Eugene passed away, she moved from the farm into Pocahontas. On December 27, 1983, Dixie married Harold Gottsch, who had 4 children: Darla Rae (Truel) Bailey, Carolyn (Bill) Rohrbaugh, Harold James "Jim" (Joann) Gottsch, and Paula (Lester) Westrem. She was a member of Hope Church in Pocahontas and had a wonderful church family that meant the world to her. Dixie taught school for 35 years and was active in her community and church. She was a tireless volunteer and always a caretaker to whoever was in need. She never met a stranger and was loved by many.

Dixie is survived by her daughter Keri (Mike) Heubrock of Aurelia; son-in-law Truel Bailey of Sutherland; daughter Carolyn Rohrbaugh of Sutherland; son Jim (Joann) Gottsch of Pocahontas, and daughter Paula (Lester) Westrem of Osage; sisters-in-law Imogene Sandy and Brenda Laws; grandchildren Brian (Jami) Bailey, Greg (Jeanette) Bailey, Traci (Kevin) Nelson, Tim (Jonna) Rohrbaugh, Karen Bullock (Josh Brainard), Matt (Melissa) Pohlman, Nick (Kaci) Pohlman, Christina (Paul Winkles) Drier, Nathen (Jess) Cunningham, Matt (Sara) Heubrock and Jarrett (Whitley) Huebrock; 37 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Richard; first husband Eugene; second husband Harold; special friend Don Ayers; daughter Darla; son-in-law Bill Rohrbaugh; sister-in-law Delores; a grandson Michael Pohlman; a great-grandson Carson Nelson; and many beloved friends and relatives.