Doris Lokken

Dora (Doris) Lokken, 90, passed away Wednesday, July 27th, 2011, at the Mill Pond View Apartments in Pelican Rapids, MN. Doris was born February 1, 1921, in Mannheim, Germany to Friedrich and Elisabeth (Schle) Gtz. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and received her education in Mannheim, graduating from Goering High School. She worked as a secretary in Mannheim after her schooling. In 1943 her family home was destroyed during a bombing raid in WWII, and the family was evacuated to the village of Obergimpern. Two years later, while working as a bookkeeper for the Portland Cement Factory, Doris met a young American soldier, Oliver J. Lokken, who was stationed there as part of the occupation forces. After he shipped back to the U.S., the two continued corresponding and eventually were engaged when Oliver asked Doris to join him to begin a new life together.In 1948, at the age of 27, Doris packed up her belongings, left her family, friends, and homeland, and boarded the steamer ship Ernie Pyle for the three-day trip across the Atlantic. She landed in New York on Christmas Eve, 1948, boarded a train on Christmas Day and traveled across the U.S. to Fergus Falls, MN, where she was met by her fianc. Doris and Oliver were married on January 5th, 1949, in the Pelican Valley Lutheran Church by the Rev. E.O. Stenson.Doris was a stay-at-home mom, raising Rainer, Fredrick, and Sylvia, through measles, mumps, and homework assignments. In 1965 she started work as a bookkeeper at the Farmers Elevator, retiring in 1988. In addition, Doris was a past member and president of Women's Civic Club; member of the VFW and Hospital Auxiliary; and a Cub Scout den mother. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she served two terms on the church council, and was active in the WELCA and its circles. Doris loved music, passing that love on to all three children. She also loved reading, crossword puzzles, and traveling. She returned to Germany to visit relatives and friends four times. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, husband Oliver in 1991, son-in-law Brian Nygaard in 2011, and numerous relatives in Germany. She is survived and will be deeply missed by her children: son Rainer and his wife Maria of Englewood, N.J; son Fredrick and his wife Marsha Thomas of Seattle, WA; daughter Sylvia Nygaard of Fergus Falls, MN; nephew Dean Lokken and family in Morton, WA; and in Germany, brother Werner Gtz, niece Brigitte Wegwart and family, cousin Sigrid Beck and family, and several other relatives and friends.Blessed be the memory of a courageous and strong woman who embraced her life in America and lived it with grace, dignity, and unconquerable "spunk".Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church.Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572