Doris E. King

BISMARK, N.D. - Doris E. King, 87, Bismarck, died peacefully, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, in the company of family. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at St George's Episcopal Church, 601 N. 4th Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Michael Horn and Rev. Jane Towne officiating. In honor of Doris' passion for hats, women were encouraged to wear their favorite hat. A luncheon followed. There was a gathering (wake, party) of family and friends of Doris and friends of the family at the home of Dr. Bradley King, 737 Munich Dr., Bismarck, on Friday, Feb. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. Doris was born on July 21, 1923, the daughter of Lilly and Ivar Edholm in Braddock, N.D. She was the youngest of five sisters and one brother. She was a graduate of Braddock High School and Interstate Business College in Fargo. After college, Doris worked as the first female page for the North Dakota Legislature and later became a dental assistant in Bismarck where she met Robert "Bob" King, at a USO dance. After returning from the war overseas, he asked her to "Marry me, or I'm going back to Pittsburgh." With such a romantic proposal, how could she say no? They were married on May 5, 1946, in the Edholm family farmhouse, where she had grown up. They lived in Bismarck and later purchased a winter home in Sun City West, Ariz. Doris was an enthusiastic hostess renown for her peanut brittle and rye bread. She hosted innumerable dinners, parties, and coffees. She and her husband were members of local dance clubs and were always the first ones on the dance floor and the last ones to leave. Both in Bismarck and in Sun City West she was committed to her friends and community. She spent many hours visiting friends and acquaintances in nursing homes and hospitals. She was involved in PEO, the Fortnightly Club, the Crafty Crafters, BAGA, Sun City West Episcopal Church, and St. George's Episcopal Church. Doris was also a talented artist, who personally decorated, wallpapered, landscaped, and painted her home. She was skilled in cooking, miniature painting, decoupage, gold leaf work, egg decorating, ceramics, and furniture refinishing. Her work filled her own home and spilled over into her children's. She shared her artistic talents by teaching enrichment classes at Bismarck State College. Above all, Doris was known for her great sense of humor and zest for life. She had an affinity for pink flamingoes, stylish clothing, hats, colorful jewelry, and strange costumes. She went trick-or-treating as Spiderman at the age of 82 and hosted a coffee party while wearing a majorette outfit at age 85. In recent years she would not hesitate to slide down the Superslide at church picnics and even when in the nursing home would get up and dance with the nurses. She loved anything Swedish and visited her relatives there for the first time at age two and the last time in her late seventies. In addition to all of the above, she lovingly raised two sons and helped care for her grandchildren, parents, nieces, nephews, and friends all of whom love her and will miss her greatly. She is survived by her two sons and one daughter-in-law, Bradley King, Bismarck, and Robert and Ingrid King, Arvada, Colo.; her grandchildren, Sophia Kingsley, Denver, Colo., Blayne King, Arvada, Colo., Amanda King, Chicago, Ill., and Brian King, Bismarck; along with three sisters, Gladys Thompson, Durango, Colo., Jane Duncan, Fresno, Calif., and Martha Anderson, Oakland, Calif.; and a great many friends, nephews, and nieces. Her passing was preceded by her husband of 49 years, Robert "Bob" King; her parents; her sisters, Tanny Nelsen and Ruth Stuverud; and her brother, Emery Edholm. Memorials are preferred to St. George's Episcopal Church. Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Doris and to sign the online guestbook.