NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Dwight Allan Dahmes, 85, of New Orleans, La., died Monday, March 22, 2004, at his home. He was a retired lawyer and insurance executive.

Mr. Dahmes was born in Redwood County, Minnesota, and lived in New Orleans for more than 50 years. He graduated from Westmar College in Le Mars, and earned a juris doctorate from Tulane University School of Law.

He became Grand master of Masons in Louisiana in 1962. He was a 33rd-degree Scottish Rite Mason in the New Orleans Scottish Rite Bodies and a past Sovereign of St. Paul Conclave Red Gress of Constantine. He was a member of Louisiana Lodge No. 102 F&AM and past Grand Master of Corinthian Lodge No. 190 F&AM.

He was past president of the High Twelve Club of New Orleans, a member of the York Rite Bodies of Greater New Orleans and the Kiwanis Club of Algiers, and former president of the Alice Hart Elementary School PTA.

He was a member of St. Philip Episcopal Church, where he was a former vestryman and Sunday school teacher.

He left Le Mars with K Company and was a decorated combat Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Georgia Geisenheimer Dahmes; a son, Dr. Robert Allan Dahmes and his wife, Dr. Victoria Dahmes; two daughters, Sallie Jean Dahmes and Georgia D. "Gigi" Queyrouze and her husband, Jack; two sisters, Siylvia D. Clayton of Tucson, Ariz., and Naomi D. Lippke of Merrill; one grandson, Kyle Allen Queyrouze and one foster grandson, Matthew Charles Doyle.

Memorial services were held in New Orleans, with a private burial. The Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.