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HABBENA, Doris (Whitten) 1924-2018

HABBENA, WHITTEN, HARRISON, VAUGHN, SPEAR, APFEL

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 10/11/2018 at 11:18:06

Doris Evylin (Whitten) Habbena

Doris Habbena, 94, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away October 8th in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Doris was born on July 30, 1924, to Delbert & Lula (Harrison) Whitten in Fayette County, Illinois. Her mother died when she was four and the majority of her formative years were spent living with her brother, Rex, and his family, Freeda and Rebekkah, in Waterloo, Iowa. At the age of 55 she was legally adopted by Freeda.

Doris graduated from East High School in 1942. She married Johannes Kruse in November 1942 shortly before he was shipped overseas in WWII. He was killed in Saipan in 1944. She was married to John L. Habbena, from February 7, 1946, until his death on August 2, 1991.

Doris’ career was spent as a secretary in a variety of settings, ranging from a defense plant in San Diego to John Deere Tractor and Engine works in Waterloo, and lastly in Dubuque, Iowa. She retired in November of 1986. She, then, worked part time as an educational assistant in the Sioux Falls schools. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo.

After her retirement, Doris and John moved to their cottage on the Mississippi River in Guttenburg, Iowa. Among her favorite activities were going for boat rides, family gatherings, and dancing. Nothing pleased her more than to spend a hot summer day on the beach, eating a hamburger or hot dog, and crunching on an apple. After John’s death she split her time between Waterloo and Sioux Falls before permanently settling in Sioux Falls in 2013.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; and brothers, Derril, Vaughn, and Rex Whitten; adoptive mother and sister, Freeda Whitten and Rebekkah Spear; son, John D. Habbena; and grandchildren, Michael Habbena and Rhonda Habbena-Apfel.

She is survived by daughter, Patricia (Dr. Steven) Olson of Sioux Falls; granddaughter, Sharre (Harvey) Spooner of Minneapolis; and grandsons, Nicholas Olson of Phoenix and Erik Olson of Sioux Falls; five great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Donald Spear of Garnavillo; and grandson-in-law, Monte Habbena-Apfel.

Funeral:
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Burial:
Immediately Following the Funeral Service
Garden of Memories, Waterloo, Iowa

SOURCE: Parrott & Wood Funeral Service website


 

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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