At 10:18 a.m. on Friday the 30th of September 2022, Doris Stevens passed from life into everlasting life with her Lord Jesus Christ, just 47 days from her 101st birthday. Doris was born on November 17, 1921, in Rapleje, Montana, to Harlan (aka Harley) and Ethel Gill/Mullen. At that time, Doris had one older half-brother Charles (aka Chuck). Ethel and Harley had five more children Verna, Patricia (aka Patty), Madeline (aka Mickey) and Marilyn (twins) and the youngest Robert (aka Bob).
With the advent of the Great Depression, Harley found it necessary to go where work could be found. They lived in Billings, MT, then LaCross Wisconsin before returning to Montana. While in LaCross, Doris and Chuck had great fun exploring the city, stopping frequently at a local cookie factory to gather broken and rejected cookies. They would go to the stock yards to see the cattle being processed, and once they stowed away on a Mississippi River boat traveling to the next city and back without their parent's knowledge. She considered it an idyllic life. Harley lost the job he had at a clock factory due to the closure of the business so they moved to Broadus, Montana, where her grandmother offered free lodging in exchange for Harley's help on the ranch. Eventually her grandmother sold the ranch so the family moved to Billings. Harley then secured a job at Fort Peck, Montana, helping to construct the dam for the reservoir. Ethyl took most of the family back to Wisconsin and attended beauty school but Doris went to live with her grandmother and aunt Hazel, who was close to Doris' age. During that time, her father, who was her champion and protector, passed away while working on the Fort Peck reservoir. When her mother returned and reunited with Doris they moved to Billings where Doris at age 16 met and married George Stevens from Bridger, MT, in 1938. Ethel eventually married John Ackerman and added one more sister, Sharon to the family.
Doris and George lived on George's father's property in the Pryor mountains southeast of Bridger for a few years where they had two sons, Harlan and Sherill. They moved from there to Williams, OR, where they purchased a dairy farm. While living on the farm George and Doris had two more sons, Von and Gary. They had a desire to send their sons to Sunday School which resulted in their acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Tragically, George had a heart attack at age 32 forcing them to give up the dairy. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley around 1949 and purchased what later became known as the Kootenai Creek Ranch where the last son, Dee Shane, was born. They eventually sold the ranch and moved to Stevensville and then Missoula, MT. Doris had several jobs over the years including working at the Missoula Country Club, Skaggs Drug store, the Bel Aire motel and eventually at St. Patrick's hospital as housekeeper then as a physical therapist aide. She worked there for 17 years.
George and Doris were in the process of building a home in Hamilton when George had a serious stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Doris cared for him until she was able to retire, and move to Hamilton where George passed at 86 years young.
Doris began playing with various card clubs in Hamilton which was a great pastime for several friends in the valley including her sister Verna Gill and brother Bob Mullen. In 2018, Doris moved to Greeley, CO, to live with her son Dee and his wife Deb due to her age and some health issues. She lived there until her passing.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her brother Chuck, sisters Verna, Patty, Madeline and Marylin, her husband George and all of his brothers and sisters, two great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
She is survived by her five sons Harlan and Lois Livingston, MT; Sherill and Suzy, Missoula, MT; Von and Christy, Missoula, MT; Gary and Cherie, Scandinavia, WI; Dee and Deb, Greeley, CO; her brother Bob Mullen, Hamilton, and sister Sharon McMillan, Oceanside, CA, 20 grandchildren and over 100 great and great, great grandchildren. She left an amazing legacy. She was one tough lady. Interment of Doris's ashes next to George occurred in July 2023.
With the advent of the Great Depression, Harley found it necessary to go where work could be found. They lived in Billings, MT, then LaCross Wisconsin before returning to Montana. While in LaCross, Doris and Chuck had great fun exploring the city, stopping frequently at a local cookie factory to gather broken and rejected cookies. They would go to the stock yards to see the cattle being processed, and once they stowed away on a Mississippi River boat traveling to the next city and back without their parent's knowledge. She considered it an idyllic life. Harley lost the job he had at a clock factory due to the closure of the business so they moved to Broadus, Montana, where her grandmother offered free lodging in exchange for Harley's help on the ranch. Eventually her grandmother sold the ranch so the family moved to Billings. Harley then secured a job at Fort Peck, Montana, helping to construct the dam for the reservoir. Ethyl took most of the family back to Wisconsin and attended beauty school but Doris went to live with her grandmother and aunt Hazel, who was close to Doris' age. During that time, her father, who was her champion and protector, passed away while working on the Fort Peck reservoir. When her mother returned and reunited with Doris they moved to Billings where Doris at age 16 met and married George Stevens from Bridger, MT, in 1938. Ethel eventually married John Ackerman and added one more sister, Sharon to the family.
Doris and George lived on George's father's property in the Pryor mountains southeast of Bridger for a few years where they had two sons, Harlan and Sherill. They moved from there to Williams, OR, where they purchased a dairy farm. While living on the farm George and Doris had two more sons, Von and Gary. They had a desire to send their sons to Sunday School which resulted in their acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Tragically, George had a heart attack at age 32 forcing them to give up the dairy. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley around 1949 and purchased what later became known as the Kootenai Creek Ranch where the last son, Dee Shane, was born. They eventually sold the ranch and moved to Stevensville and then Missoula, MT. Doris had several jobs over the years including working at the Missoula Country Club, Skaggs Drug store, the Bel Aire motel and eventually at St. Patrick's hospital as housekeeper then as a physical therapist aide. She worked there for 17 years.
George and Doris were in the process of building a home in Hamilton when George had a serious stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Doris cared for him until she was able to retire, and move to Hamilton where George passed at 86 years young.
Doris began playing with various card clubs in Hamilton which was a great pastime for several friends in the valley including her sister Verna Gill and brother Bob Mullen. In 2018, Doris moved to Greeley, CO, to live with her son Dee and his wife Deb due to her age and some health issues. She lived there until her passing.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her brother Chuck, sisters Verna, Patty, Madeline and Marylin, her husband George and all of his brothers and sisters, two great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
She is survived by her five sons Harlan and Lois Livingston, MT; Sherill and Suzy, Missoula, MT; Von and Christy, Missoula, MT; Gary and Cherie, Scandinavia, WI; Dee and Deb, Greeley, CO; her brother Bob Mullen, Hamilton, and sister Sharon McMillan, Oceanside, CA, 20 grandchildren and over 100 great and great, great grandchildren. She left an amazing legacy. She was one tough lady. Interment of Doris's ashes next to George occurred in July 2023.
At 10:18 a.m. on Friday the 30th of September 2022, Doris Stevens passed from life into everlasting life with her Lord Jesus Christ, just 47 days from her 101st birthday. Doris was born on November 17, 1921, in Rapleje, Montana, to Harlan (aka Harley) and Ethel Gill/Mullen. At that time, Doris had one older half-brother Charles (aka Chuck). Ethel and Harley had five more children Verna, Patricia (aka Patty), Madeline (aka Mickey) and Marilyn (twins) and the youngest Robert (aka Bob).
With the advent of the Great Depression, Harley found it necessary to go where work could be found. They lived in Billings, MT, then LaCross Wisconsin before returning to Montana. While in LaCross, Doris and Chuck had great fun exploring the city, stopping frequently at a local cookie factory to gather broken and rejected cookies. They would go to the stock yards to see the cattle being processed, and once they stowed away on a Mississippi River boat traveling to the next city and back without their parent's knowledge. She considered it an idyllic life. Harley lost the job he had at a clock factory due to the closure of the business so they moved to Broadus, Montana, where her grandmother offered free lodging in exchange for Harley's help on the ranch. Eventually her grandmother sold the ranch so the family moved to Billings. Harley then secured a job at Fort Peck, Montana, helping to construct the dam for the reservoir. Ethyl took most of the family back to Wisconsin and attended beauty school but Doris went to live with her grandmother and aunt Hazel, who was close to Doris' age. During that time, her father, who was her champion and protector, passed away while working on the Fort Peck reservoir. When her mother returned and reunited with Doris they moved to Billings where Doris at age 16 met and married George Stevens from Bridger, MT, in 1938. Ethel eventually married John Ackerman and added one more sister, Sharon to the family.
Doris and George lived on George's father's property in the Pryor mountains southeast of Bridger for a few years where they had two sons, Harlan and Sherill. They moved from there to Williams, OR, where they purchased a dairy farm. While living on the farm George and Doris had two more sons, Von and Gary. They had a desire to send their sons to Sunday School which resulted in their acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Tragically, George had a heart attack at age 32 forcing them to give up the dairy. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley around 1949 and purchased what later became known as the Kootenai Creek Ranch where the last son, Dee Shane, was born. They eventually sold the ranch and moved to Stevensville and then Missoula, MT. Doris had several jobs over the years including working at the Missoula Country Club, Skaggs Drug store, the Bel Aire motel and eventually at St. Patrick's hospital as housekeeper then as a physical therapist aide. She worked there for 17 years.
George and Doris were in the process of building a home in Hamilton when George had a serious stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Doris cared for him until she was able to retire, and move to Hamilton where George passed at 86 years young.
Doris began playing with various card clubs in Hamilton which was a great pastime for several friends in the valley including her sister Verna Gill and brother Bob Mullen. In 2018, Doris moved to Greeley, CO, to live with her son Dee and his wife Deb due to her age and some health issues. She lived there until her passing.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her brother Chuck, sisters Verna, Patty, Madeline and Marylin, her husband George and all of his brothers and sisters, two great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
She is survived by her five sons Harlan and Lois Livingston, MT; Sherill and Suzy, Missoula, MT; Von and Christy, Missoula, MT; Gary and Cherie, Scandinavia, WI; Dee and Deb, Greeley, CO; her brother Bob Mullen, Hamilton, and sister Sharon McMillan, Oceanside, CA, 20 grandchildren and over 100 great and great, great grandchildren. She left an amazing legacy. She was one tough lady. Interment of Doris's ashes next to George occurred in July 2023.
With the advent of the Great Depression, Harley found it necessary to go where work could be found. They lived in Billings, MT, then LaCross Wisconsin before returning to Montana. While in LaCross, Doris and Chuck had great fun exploring the city, stopping frequently at a local cookie factory to gather broken and rejected cookies. They would go to the stock yards to see the cattle being processed, and once they stowed away on a Mississippi River boat traveling to the next city and back without their parent's knowledge. She considered it an idyllic life. Harley lost the job he had at a clock factory due to the closure of the business so they moved to Broadus, Montana, where her grandmother offered free lodging in exchange for Harley's help on the ranch. Eventually her grandmother sold the ranch so the family moved to Billings. Harley then secured a job at Fort Peck, Montana, helping to construct the dam for the reservoir. Ethyl took most of the family back to Wisconsin and attended beauty school but Doris went to live with her grandmother and aunt Hazel, who was close to Doris' age. During that time, her father, who was her champion and protector, passed away while working on the Fort Peck reservoir. When her mother returned and reunited with Doris they moved to Billings where Doris at age 16 met and married George Stevens from Bridger, MT, in 1938. Ethel eventually married John Ackerman and added one more sister, Sharon to the family.
Doris and George lived on George's father's property in the Pryor mountains southeast of Bridger for a few years where they had two sons, Harlan and Sherill. They moved from there to Williams, OR, where they purchased a dairy farm. While living on the farm George and Doris had two more sons, Von and Gary. They had a desire to send their sons to Sunday School which resulted in their acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Tragically, George had a heart attack at age 32 forcing them to give up the dairy. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley around 1949 and purchased what later became known as the Kootenai Creek Ranch where the last son, Dee Shane, was born. They eventually sold the ranch and moved to Stevensville and then Missoula, MT. Doris had several jobs over the years including working at the Missoula Country Club, Skaggs Drug store, the Bel Aire motel and eventually at St. Patrick's hospital as housekeeper then as a physical therapist aide. She worked there for 17 years.
George and Doris were in the process of building a home in Hamilton when George had a serious stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Doris cared for him until she was able to retire, and move to Hamilton where George passed at 86 years young.
Doris began playing with various card clubs in Hamilton which was a great pastime for several friends in the valley including her sister Verna Gill and brother Bob Mullen. In 2018, Doris moved to Greeley, CO, to live with her son Dee and his wife Deb due to her age and some health issues. She lived there until her passing.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her brother Chuck, sisters Verna, Patty, Madeline and Marylin, her husband George and all of his brothers and sisters, two great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
She is survived by her five sons Harlan and Lois Livingston, MT; Sherill and Suzy, Missoula, MT; Von and Christy, Missoula, MT; Gary and Cherie, Scandinavia, WI; Dee and Deb, Greeley, CO; her brother Bob Mullen, Hamilton, and sister Sharon McMillan, Oceanside, CA, 20 grandchildren and over 100 great and great, great grandchildren. She left an amazing legacy. She was one tough lady. Interment of Doris's ashes next to George occurred in July 2023.
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