Doris Darlene Simpson

Doris D. Simpson 88 of Menahga, MN passed away Friday December 19, 2014 at her home in Menahga. Doris was born to Frank and Katie (Hills) Blanchard, on March 28, 1926, in Huntersville Township, Wadena County, MN. She attended school at District 50, near Huntersville, and later Menahga High School. In the summer of 1943 she moved to Washington State with her parents. Doris met her future husband Les Simpson, in January of 1948, by way of her friends, Elsie and Don Koegler (Don is a cousin of Les) and that is a story in itself! In 1949, Longview-Kelso celebrated its silver anniversary, where their theme was Paul Bunyan, because of the lumber and logging industry. Ken Bowling and Doris were named Paul and Pauline Bunyan. Doris and Les were married, on November 14, 1950, in Walla Walla, WA. Doris attended Bernard Beautician School, in Longview. She was also employed at the Longview Fiber Company for over 5 years, and also worked at the Monticello Hotel, in Longview, as a Switchboard Operator. In June of 1962, Les and Doris, and two children moved to MN, where they began farming, east of Nimrod. Doris enjoyed being a homemaker. She loved being in the great outdoors, whether it was helping on the farm, growing a big garden, enjoying her flowerbed, or taking walks, in the fields, with their dogs "Pepper and later Buff." Some of her other favorite things to do were spending time with her family, listening to good old country music, dancing, watching RFD-TV and the Professional Bull Rider shows. She had a few favorite riders of course! Doris had collected a lot of figurines over the years especially of butterflies and bluebirds. In fact, butterflies always seemed to seek her out and land upon her. After Les retired, they started traveling. She enjoyed their trips back to Washington, to visit family and friends, to see Mt. St. Helens again and the beaches of Washington or Oregon. Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons were always a must stop area also. In 1991, Les and Doris moved to Menahga. Doris was preceded in death by her husband Les, in 1999; her parents Frank and Katie; brothers, William and Delmar; sisters, Zelma, Clarissa, Arvelda, Verol, Ophelia and Luella. Doris is survived by one son Marc (Cindy) of Monticello, MN and one daughter Gail (Ray) Skaro, of Menahga, MN; five grandsons, Carl Skaro, of Columbus, OH, Philip (Karen) Skaro, of Osage, MN, Michael (Rae) Simpson, of Lawton, OK, Matthew (Emma) DeVilbiss, of Princeton, MN and Derek Simpson of Monticello, MN; four great grandchildren, Logan, Anna, Kristina and Jayson; along with numerous nieces and nephews.