Elma Doerr

Minot

Elma Doerr, 93, Minot, died Tuesday, December 26, 2023 in a Minot assisted living facility.

Elma Louise was born June 5, 1930 in Solon Township, 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 there. 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 care parents for 29 years, caring for over 300 children, honoring them as North Dakota Foster Parents of the Year. 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. Alan died on October 24, 2011.

Elma was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in Minot where she was active with the church quilters. She had been a member of the Good Sam RV Club since 1973 and served as a past 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 and Argy and Alan Haugen; 2 great great grandchildren: Corbyn and Liam Dawson; sister Diane (Clarence) Vetter, Loveland CO and several nieces and nephews.

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; son-in-law David Ridenour; and great-granddaughter Alivia Plutowski.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in First Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service or share memories and condolences access her obituary at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

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.

Published by The Minot Daily News, December 29, 2023.