Dr. Elizabeth Gunelson McCauley

Dr. Elizabeth Gunelson McCauley died Wednesday, January 20 peacefully surrounded by loved ones after her battle with ALS.   Dr. McCauley was born on April 3, 1956 in Grand Rapids, MN to her parents, Walter and Adelaide Gunelson of Hibbing, MN. She graduated from St. Olaf College and completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Minnesota in 1984. She married Thomas McCauley, her high school sweetheart, in 1980. After graduating from dental school Dr. McCauley joined and became a partner of Dental Associates in Detroit Lakes, MN where she practiced for over 30 years. After being diagnosed with ALS, Beth retired from dentistry and enjoyed traveling the world with her husband.   Beth was a wonderful dentist, loving mother, wife and friend. She was also an active community member involved in Rotary, Lizzie Chapter Sorority, Pickerel Lake Quilters, Trinity Lutheran Church and Camp Kukamunga. She loved warm weather, being at the lake and long boat rides. She loved her dogs, Rosie and Lucy, and enjoyed paddling them around the lake on the front of her paddleboard. Beth was also very artistic and used her unique sense of style and creativity to start a painted wooden fish company, Hot Mess Fish Company, LLC. She was a role model and mentor to many in her life and love.   Beth is survived by her husband Tom (Detroit Lakes, MN), daughter Meggie McCauley (Minneapolis, MN), daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Jacob Roberts (Roseville, MN). She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Bruce and Susan Gunelson (Mt. Laurel, NJ), brother and sister-in-law Dr. David and Charlene Gunelson (Pengilly, MN) along with numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Michael; her brother, Steven; and parents, Adelaide and Walter Gunelson.