Doris Kathryn Troxel

October 26, 1926 – January 23, 2018

Doris Kathryn Troxel was born October 26, 1926, one of five children, to Alfred and Mayme Newton in McIntosh, Minnesota. Her father was a farmer and, as was common in those years, money was not plentiful. She had the usual farm chores that were her responsibility and spent a happy childhood with her three sisters and one brother. As a young woman she decided to attend college to become a registered nurse along with her sister Terry with whom she was extremely close. It was during these years that her mother passed away suddenly and she did not get to say goodbye. For the rest of her life Doris would tear up any time she talked about her mother.

When she moved to the city for school a whole new world opened up. Her roommate was from New York and she told of learning and doing so many new things that she had never had the chance to do growing up on a farm. She loved to learn new things. In 1947, at the age of 21, she obtained her pilot’s license and flew single engine airplanes. Skiing was another newly learned skill and she ended up marrying the ski instructor. Doris married Jack Troxel on October 17, 1951. Their first son Brian was born in 1954 followed by Steve in 1959. Doris juggled many responsibilities during those years. She was a busy mom, working as an RN and helping with various family businesses. A few years later,they purchased a hunting and fishing resort in northern Saskatchewan.They built rustic cabins and Doris would cook and bake pies for the on-site restaurant. It was very remote and many times Doris was called upon to administer emergency medical assistance. They ran this seasonal resort for about 10 years. They moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1977 and built a house together while Doris worked at the hospital. They would then move to Kanab, UT and build another house while Doris worked as a Public Health Nurse. In the mid-eighties they moved back to Bonners Ferry and built their last house, planted fruit trees and, as always, a huge garden. Doris loved living in this little subdivision with close neighbors. She spent those years gardening, quilting, and volunteering for Hospice. She loved children and they loved her. She would let them do things they probably would not get to do at home; things like learning how to throw knives so they would stick in the ground; using a magnifying glass to start fires; burning ant hills and smoking gophers out of their holes. She did also teach them valuable life skills like cooking, baking, sewing and gardening! She would play games endlessly with them and go for bike rides. She made many close friends there and it was home to her like no other place. It was difficult for her to make the move to Cranbrook in September 2007 to be closer to family. She slowly adjusted but her happiest years were definitely the later ones she spent in Bonners Ferry.

Doris was a beautiful lady inside and out. Brian remembers her dropping lunch off at his job site when he was probably in his early twenties and some of the guys asking him if that was his sister! She was proud of her sons and a champion of her daughter-in-laws. She was always interested in what her grand-kids were doing and was close enough to know them well. She loved Christmas and every year would try to talk someone in to trying her Norwegian lutefisk with no success. Without fail she would wear what she called her “Christmas skirt” for dinner; green with bright flowers and definitely out of style. Her great-granddaughters will now have fun playing dress up and hearing the story behind it.

Doris took her faith in God seriously and endeavored to show His love to all. Throughout her life she was someone who lightened the load whenever possible. If she saw a need she did not hesitate to lend a helping hand whether that was physically, financially or emotionally. Her life was not always an easy one but it was full of adventure and she touched so many lives along the way. She will be greatly missed here but we know she is in His presence where there is fullness of joy!