To view a livestream of the service access www.firstlutheran.tv
Elma Doerr, 93, Minot, died Tuesday, December 26, 2023 in a Minot assisted living facility.
Elma Louise was born June 5, 1930 in rural Burt, North Dakota to Eddie and Lydia (Kallis) Oelke. She was raised and educated in Mott, ND graduating from Mott High School in 1947.
Elma taught school in rural Mott for one year until beginning employment at a clothing store. She married Alan Doerr on December 2, 1951 in Mott. The couple resided in Rugby, Crosby, and Velva before moving to Minot in 1956. While living in Minot, she was a cashier and server in the lunchroom of Roosevelt Elementary School for 28 years until retiring in 1998. Elma and Alan were foster parents for 29 years, caring for over 300 children. They were honored as North Dakota Foster Parents of the Year in 1992. In addition to raising six of their own children: Joette, Jerlyn, Jylann, Jaclyn, Johnet, and Judith, they also welcomed into their home Elma’s nephew Royce Oelke.
Elma was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in Minot where she was active in the Altar Guild, Circle, FLCW, Couples Club, and most recently the church quilters. She had been a member of the Good Sam RV Club since 1973 and served as State Director; she was also a 31-year RV hospitality volunteer for the Norsk Hostfest. Her hobbies included reading, traveling, quilting, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Elma’s loving family includes her children: Joette Ridenour, Arvada, CO; Jerlyn (Dan) Langemo, Minot, ND; Jylann (Clint) Hanson, Des Lacs, ND; Jaclyn (Bruce) Morlock, Grand Forks, ND; Johnet (Brian) Christianson, Glenburn, ND and Judith (Terry) Pogatshnik, Fargo, ND; 11 grandchildren Caroline (Matt) Purvis, Fort Mill, SC; Timothy (Amber) Langemo, Grand Forks, ND; Katie Langemo, Minneapolis, MN; Karen (Aaron) Sims, Minot, ND; Mathias (Darla) Hanson, Surrey, ND; Michael Hanson, Garrison, ND; Christy (Ben) Keele, Indianapolis, IN; Tiffany (Jared) Plutowski, Fargo, ND; Brittney (Justin) Kingsley, Fargo, ND; Callie (Matthew) Winkles, Fargo, ND and Michaela (Justin) Haugen, Minot, ND. 14 great grandchildren Tiffany and Andrew Purvis, Nolan and Dawson Langemo, Samantha (Chris Dawson) Hanson, Ethan Hanson, Mason and Chandler Hanson, Raiden and Jemma Plutowski, Abigail and Emmy Kingsley, Argy and Alan Haugen. 2 great great grandchildren Corbyn and Liam Dawson; sister Diane (Clarence) Vetter, Loveland, CO; several nieces and nephews (and her cat, Tinker!)
Elma was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Alan; parents; brother and sister-in-law, Ervin (Jeanette) Oelke; sister and brother-in-law, Eldora (Jim) Rounds; brother-in-law, Thomas Friedt; son-in-law David Ridenour; great-granddaughter Alivia Plutowski; two nieces and a nephew.
Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Judy Hoff and the loving staff at ProHealth for our mother’s care.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in First Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service access www.firstlutheran.tv
Prayer Service: 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot
Visitation: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church of Minot to its music or quilting ministries or Metigoshe Ministries.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Elma Doerr, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
