Doris Lavonne (Toft) NUEHRING

TOFT, NUEHRING, DEROSA, ULSTAD, JOHNDROW

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/13/2007 at 09:48:10

BELMOND - Doris L. Nuehring, 84, of Belmond died Tuesday (Oct. 9, 2007) at the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond, with her son, Neil, and her brother, Clifford, at her side, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond, with the Rev. Lowell H. Halvorson officiating. Burial will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continue one hour prior to the service Saturday at church. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Doris' name may consider a charity supporting breast cancer research or one of the donor's choice.

Doris Lavonne Toft, the daughter of Thomas Elliott and Ora Blanch (Ulstad) Toft, was born Sept. 25, 1923, on her parent's farm in Wright County, rural Belmond. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Doris received her education at rural District No. 9 Belmond School. Doris was united in marriage to Lyle Andrew Nuehring on Aug. 14, 1946, in Algona. Following their marriage, Doris and Lyle lived in Garner for a time. In 1949, the couple moved to Klemme, where they raised their six children. Lyle was employed for many years as a mechanic with Hale-Phipps Motors, while Doris handled the fulltime responsibilities of nurturing and providing a loving home for their children. Lyle passed away on Sept. 25, 1967. Doris continued to live in Klemme, where she could often be found spending time caring for her flowers and plants, walking around town on errands, being a good neighbor, or enjoying the company of her cats. She was also an active member of the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. In 1986, Doris returned to Belmond and lived at the Belmond Community Apartments for the next 20 years. In 2006, she moved to Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living in Mason City and later the Good Shepherd Health Care Center in Mason City. During her life's journey, Doris enjoyed anything that meant spending time in the presence of her family. Doris had been on various travel excursions to visit her family in Connecticut, California and Alabama, as well as visits to Cape Cod, Mass., New York City and Montreal, Canada. Doris enjoyed the Iowa State Fair and the Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah. She also looked forward to going on shorter journeys to area towns to participate in an evening or afternoon of friendly, but competitive games of bingo. Doris enjoyed the challenges of both word search and jigsaw puzzles. Many of her gatherings with family and friends would include conversations and camaraderie around a jigsaw puzzle over a cup of "Norwegian" coffee. "Norwegian" coffee was only fitting for a lady who proudly wore the badge of her 100 percent Norwegian heritage.

Doris cherished the many friendships she had made with her neighbors during her years in Klemme and Belmond. She loved to experience the holidays and change of seasons, a joy that could be easily seen in her decorations and wardrobe which included socks adorned in hearts, pumpkins, Santas, snowmen and other holiday symbols. Doris especially looked forard to Christmas. Doris was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and could often be found watching and cheering on the Hawks' football and basketball teams. She even went to a postseason bowl game in San Diego, Calif. Doris was a longtime member of the Belmond Chapter of American Legion Women's Auxiliary and St. Olaf Ladies Aid. Doris's family will cherish the many wonderful gifts that she shared with them during her life. Her courage, her non-judgmental attitude, her witty personality and her mischievious smile will long be remembered. They will also remember her sense of strength and perseverance as she valiantly faced the many challenges of cancer over the years. All who knew her well will fondly smile as they reflect back on the amazing lady who proudly called herself "Tough Tom" as she made it through another round in her fight against cancer.

Doris will be dearly missed in the lives of her children, Arland Nuehring of Irvine, Calif., Cynthia (Cindy) of Rocky Hill, Conn., and her husband, Peter DeRosa, Leland of Auburn, Ala., Neil of Iowa City, Dwight of Tucson, Ariz., and Cheryl, of Kensington, Conn.; her grandchildren, Marc DeRosa of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Lisa DeRosa and her partner, Desireé Johndrow, of East Hartford, Conn.; her brothers, Roger and wife, Kay Toft, of Surprise, Ariz., Clifford Toft, of Belmond, Jerry and wife, Delores Toft, of Urbandale, Ev and wife, Judy Toft, of West Des Moines; sisters-in-law, Mary Toft (wife of the late Thomas Jr.) of Woodland, Calif., Marlys Toft Rich (wife of the late Donald Toft) of Johnston; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Ora; her husband, Lyle; sister Betty; and three brothers, Thomas Jr., Donald and Robert. Andrews Funeral Homes.

Mason City Globe Gazette
October 11, 2007