Langworthys are Dodge Center’s top citizens

Randy and Nadine Langworthy have been named the 2026 Dodge Center Citizens of the Year.

The selection committee said the couple’s contributions to the community over the years have had a significant impact.

Randy Langworthy grew up on a farm north of Dodge Center; he attended West Concord schools, where he was involved with the music program. After high school, he attended Rochester Community College’s two-year machinist program.

Langworthy worked in Kenyon for three years before being hired by Mayo Clinic Health System. He worked with a five-member team on microscope repair and assembly throughout the Mayo complex until he retired, 42 years later.

Nadine Langworthy lived in the Nerstrand/Faribault area and attended Faribault schools. She was involved with band, orchestra and choir programs. After graduation, she moved to Dodge Center in 1978 and worked at the Star Record and the Developmental Achievement Center, which was located in what is now Praise Fellowship Church. Her mother had played piano and organ at their church for years; Nadine started playing at the church when she was in junior high.

The pair met when Nadine filled in for the regular piano player for their church’s young adults group called The King’s Singers, which performed for many churches in the area. Most of the choir members were married couples; Randy sang in the group, but was single – until the two married in October 1980.

In 1983, the Langworthys moved to Wanamingo for eight years before moving back to Dodge Center. Nadine started giving piano lessons in the mid-1980s, and worked at Schmitt Music until 1995, when she began providing piano lessons full time. 

That’s also when she began driving to St. Thomas University in St. Paul, where she earned her Piano Pedagogy Certificate. She started giving piano lessons at their home, then in a rented store and later in the piano studio on Main Street in Dodge Center, averaging 45 students each week.

She has slowly lowered the number of students she teaches, and has just announced she will be retiring from giving lessons.

Nadine played piano and organ at Faith Lutheran Church in Dodge Center for 21 years. She never kept track, but estimated she has played for hundreds of weddings and funerals over the years, as well as accompanying the Triton School Middle School choir and the school musicians during the solo and music groups for sectional contests for years.

She enjoys crocheting and sewing, as well as raising flowers in their garden. Nadine has attended a handful of opera performances in the Twin Cities. Even though they traditionally do not perform in English, she could follow along with the songs, saying they almost seemed like a TV “soap opera” with the antics that takes place on stage. Randy did come along for one opera performance.

In 2016, the couple bought the former drug store-turned-café on Dodge Center’s Main Street, and The Annadine was born.

It is a local music venue that provides live performances and socializing to the community. It started as a coffee shop, and after three months of serving coffee and pastries, the first live music at The Annadine was held. They then added beer, wine and pizza.

Open Mic night is held the first and third Thursday of every month for both amateurs and professionals.

The second and fourth Fridays of the month feature scheduled music performances, which have included dozens of students from Triton schools, taking the opportunity to sing and perform in public.

The word “anodyne” is defined as something that relieves stress or pain, comforts and soothes. Since the building was a drug store for many years, the name seemed appropriate.

The Annadine is available on Tuesday afternoons for people to play cards and socialize.

Randy is a member of the Dodge Center Lions club, which uses the spot for monthly board and all member meetings, in addition to other special events for the club.

He is also a member of the Dodger Day committee, helping plan the annual June event. He is the captain and longtime member of the Dodge County Sheriff Posse, which trains monthly, takes part in local area parades and is called when needed at traffic accidents and fires in the area. Randy spends many hours with the group, handling security during the Dodge County Fair each summer.

Randy is a member of the Riverside Cemetery Board in Dodge Center, and said his hobbies “seem to be maintenance at their house plus,” their two buildings on Main Street.

The Langworthys travel across the state in a camper; both rode motorcycle across the Midwest for years with other bikers. Nadine has since sold her motorcycle, but retains her license.

Randy still rides his Harley Davidson, taking a trip to North Carolina and Tennessee three years ago with his brother and son. They rode the “Tail of the Dragon” which has 318 curves in just an 11-mile stretch of road.

The couple has one daughter and four grandchildren.

They said they really enjoy being around people, interacting and helping people in a variety of ways. They are not really interested in leaving the area during the winter months since they are very involved with local activities.