Doris Gunderson August 12, 1922 – December 10, 2018 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Funeral Services for Doris Gunderson will be conducted on January 5th, 2019 at 10 AM at the Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Marlow Carrels officiating. Interment will follow at the Westby Cemetery. Doris Gunderson was born August 12, 1922 the youngest of eleven children born to Fred and Clara Brenteson.
She was born on the family farm near Coalridge, Montana. She attended Coalridge country school and upon 8th grade graduation attended Westby High School, graduating in 1941. She married Oscar Gunderson in September 1941.
They had three children, Eugene, Noreen and Sandra. After their children were in school, Doris worked at several different jobs. She worked at O & M Elevator in the spring and fall busy season.
She worked at Westby Meat and Grocery, Gladys Wirtzberger’s Coffee Shop and filled in at other business places for short periods of time. In 1962 she was hired as the school secretary at Westby Public School. The District clerk’s position was also added to her job.
She retired after spending 20 years in those positions. Although she worked for many years, and at many different places, she enjoyed her work and considered each job another challenge. One thing Oscar and Doris loved to do was square dance.
They danced locally and made trips to Western Montana, and other places, with other couples who also loved to square dance. They even danced on a river boat, though Doris did not enjoy going on the water. They always had a great time dancing and spending the time with friends.
After she and Oscar retired they did quite a bit of traveling. They went to Hawaii twice, Washington, D.C., New York, Virginia and New Jersey. A trip to Nashville with their good friends, the Earl Strand’s, was a 50th wedding anniversary gift from their children.
They made many trips to visit Gene and Beverly in Missoula, Noreen and Jim in Oregon and Sandi and Oather in Minnesota. Spending time with their children and grandchildren was always a priority. Oscar passed away April 29, 1997 just days before his 80th birthday.
Doris continued her travels spending much time with her children and their families. She also spent time with friends in Kalispell and Helena plus a trip to Branson, Missouri with Sandi and Oather. For her 80th birthday, her children took her to Norway to visit with relatives and see the beautiful country of her and Oscar’s ancestors.
She lived in Plentywood for many years and enjoyed being around her friends and relatives. Her nieces always had an annual Aunties luncheon which they did for several years even down to when she was the last one able to attend. She had many things she enjoyed doing in her spare time, crocheting was number 1 and there are several grandchildren who are the recipients of her baby blankets and other “pretties”.
She made her “scrubbies” and gave them away to friends and family. They were so much better than the “store bought” ones. She continued doing what she could until her diminishing sight made it too difficult.
She loved to play cards, something all the grandkids have enjoyed with her. They all wanted to be Grandma’s partner as she was usually key to having the winning team. But Scrabble was her game!
She was a very formidable opponent and you had to really be on your toes to stay in the competition. Doris was quite the baker. Anyone who came by to visit would be treated with fresh cookies or a fresh batch of buns.
If one was lucky, they would get some of her fresh cinnamon rolls. Unfortunately, her vision decreased to the point where she could no longer live by herself and in October 2012 she moved to Minnesota to live with Sandi and Oather. She was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Someone was always dropping by and a game of cards (large print) would get started or she and Sandi would play cards or Scrabble. She had family and friends from Montana, Arizona and Mississippi who came to visit now and then. She thoroughly enjoyed all these visits.
Gene and Noreen made several trips to Minnesota so they could spend time with her. Sadly, her health started declining and she passed away peacefully on December 10, 2018. She is survived by her children, Eugene (Beverly) from Alabama, and children: Darwin from Arizona and Jason and children Chesney, Peyton and Oakley from Mississippi.
Noreen Rogers (Jim) and children: Christopher and children, Wayne (Alicia) and children Tyree, Devitri and Leonidas; Brian and children Jadyn and Aveyah. Janet Angeloff (Gary, dec) and daughters, Elizabeth; Rachelle and children Ronnie and Anthony. Kimberly Coxen (Matthew) and children, Justin (Heidi) and daughter Arya; Shawn and daughter Eliana.
Samuel Rogers, all residing in Oregon. Sandra Martin (Oather) and children: Michael (Nicole) and children Mattilan, Michaela, and Cole; Shannon Streich (Jeff) and children Morgan and Olivia; Kelly Voelker (Jeremy) and children Nicholas, Andrea, Abigail and Nathaniel all residing in Minnesota. Matthew (Heidi) and children Adeline and Malachi of Massachusetts.
Kate McLean (Dylan) and children Wyatt, Lennon and Jameson, Minnesota. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
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