Doris Houselog
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Doris Houselog was born to John and Elsie (Wussow) Erks on February 15, 1939 in Altona Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota.
She was baptized and later confirmed at St. James Lutheran Church in Holland, Minnesota. She was raised on the farm in Pipestone County, where she attended country school District #7 through eighth grade and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1957.
On April 29, 1958 Doris married Joseph Houselog, Jr. at St. James Lutheran Church. In their 40 years of marriage they lived on various farms in the Ruthton and Tyler area. During this time they were blessed with seven children. After many years of being a devoted mother and caretaker of her home, Doris worked various jobs in the area.
She had two favorite jobs. She worked part-time on weekends as a waitress at the Brick Manor in Arco, Minnesota, and for the last ten years as a receptionist at Tyler Healthcare Center. As she had a gift for “gab,” over the years she made many friendships from the young to the old, and these friendships lasted a lifetime. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Doris continued working and enjoying life as it was given to her. Following ten months of fighting and battling this cancer, on Friday, October 30, 2009 she passed peacefully at her farm home at the age of 70 years, 8 months, and 15 days.
Doris enjoyed everything in life. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. She enjoyed her crocheting, sewing, flowers, gardens, and doing all of her yard work. She was a member of the Doris Club and a Saturday morning Quilt Block Club. She enjoyed family and friends, especially playing cards, games, and bean bag with her children and grandchildren, and her birthday/casino trips with her friends.
Doris is lovingly remembered by her seven children: Dan and his wife Andrea of Tyler, Minnesota, Darla Blegen and her husband Brad of Russell, Minnesota, Jim of Baltimore, Maryland and his fiancee Leticia Arellano of Washington D.C., Les and his wife Colleen of Worthington, Minnesota, Tammy Totz and her husband Tim of Clear Lake, Minnesota, Tracy Hastings and her husband Tony of Clear Lake, Minnesota, and Troy and his wife Jodi of Tyler, Minnesota; 16 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; a sister, Caroline Heidebrink and her husband Marv of Holland, Minnesota; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents; sister Byrdella Thomas; brother Carl Erks, and infant brother Leslie.