Doris Stafslien

Doris Stafslien, a native

of Ray, ND, died August

4, 2022 at the age of

94–just short of her 95th

birthday.

Doris was Born on Au-

gust 31, 1927 to Norman

and Hilda Aune, she lived

in Ray until she was 16

years old. At that time, be-

ing one of seven children

in a family of limited in-

come, she was en-

couraged to leave home to

seek employment. Her fa-

ther, Norman Aune,

worked for the Great

Northern Railroad, so she

was able to travel inex-

pensively. With job op-

portunities in Minneapo-

lis, MN, she went that

direction. While on the

train, she met Joyce and

Gloria Noss, sisters going

to Minneapolis for the

same reason. Because of

their friendship, Doris

met their brother, Claude

Noss; they married in

1947. In 1949, Claude

died of a cerebral hemor-

rhage. Doris was four

months pregnant with

their daughter, Claudette.

Doris went to work pro-

viding household help for

Gus and Frieda Janz, near-

by farmers, who had five

sons. One of them,

Bernharth (Bennie), began

to court Doris. He was a

fine man who built a

ranch home on a nearby

quarter of land that he

owned. They married in

1950 and in December of

1951, their son, Vincent,

was born. Sadly, Bennie

developed leucoplakia

(oral) cancer, dying in

1952.

Doris loved to dance

and met Myron Stafslien

at a dance in Raub, ND.

They started dating, and

on December 6, 1953,

Myron and Doris got mar-

ried in Max, ND. Myron, a

kind, caring man, and

Doris had three children

together: Rodney, Barbara,

and Leslie. Myron legally

adopted Claudette and

Vincent, making the fami-

ly of seven happily having

the same last name. They

resided at the property on

King’s Highway, sharing

the many tasks of a small,

diversified farm.

Myron completed a

course in Refrigeration

and Air Conditioning in

order to earn funds to

supplement the farming

income. Doris completed

her high school degree by

correspondence study.

She drove the truck and

the combine as crops

were harvested. She also

became an excellent tailor

who sewed most of Barb

and Claudette’s clothes,

including prom dresses.

Later in life, Myron

bought Doris a knitting

machine with which she

made family sweaters and

over two hundred stock-

ing caps to give to chil-

dren in Minot, ND.

Their marriage was a

happy one. They were

able to travel to Washing-

ton, DC, Hawaii, New Or-

leans, California, Seattle,

Chicago, Canada and

joined their children in

other adventures in the

various states in which

their children resided.

Sadly, Myron died of

colon cancer in 1989;

Doris remained single the

rest of her life, residing in

Keller, TX starting in

1997, where she was near

their youngest son, Les

and his family.

Her husbands, son

Vince, grandson, Robin

Beyer, and all her siblings

except Ardis Farragallah

(Anthony) preceded Doris

in death. She is survived

by children Claudette

Beyer, Rod Stafslien, Barb

(Kris) Johnson, and Les

Stafslien; grandchildren

Tyler (Shannon) Stafslien,

Justin (Carissa) Stafslien,

Courtney (Jody) Mills and

Brooks (Heidi) Stafslien;

Jordan (Alisha) Johnson,

Luke Johnson, Aleala

(Parker) Bickel and Mark

Johnson; Logan and Jake

Stafslien as well as 13

great grandchildren plus

numerous nieces,

nephews, and cousins.

Doris will be laid to rest

at Sunset Memorial Gar-

dens in Minot next to

Myron. No public services

will be held.