Doris Winger

Doris Bernice (Loija) Winger was born on March 19, 1928, at home on the farm in Rockwood Township, Wadena County, Minnesota. Her grandma served as the midwife. Doris attended a one room country school through the fifth grade and had to walk over two miles there and back in all types of weather. From sixth grade on she went to school in Sebeka, MN. Doris graduated from Sebeka High School in 1946 where she participated in basketball and choir and 4-H. Doris received her teaching degree from St. Cloud Teachers College and accepted her first job in Appleton, MN, where she met her future husband.

Doris was united in marriage to James Winger on June 10, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sebeka. The couple made their home in Alexandria, MN, where Doris taught briefly in the nearby town of Nelson before she took a leave from teaching to be a stay at home mom to their four children. She later returned to work as a teacher’s aide at Washington Elementary School until her retirement in 1995. Doris still had a desire to keep busy, so she did housekeeping for several families which she found rewarding. She also enjoyed providing daycare for her grandchildren.

Doris was proud of her Finnish heritage and loved celebrating St. Urho’s Day and carrying on the tradition of Saturday night saunas. She had a strong faith and was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. She was quite a cook and enjoyed baking flat bread and caramel rolls. Doris took great pride in caring for her family and keeping a clean house... even scrubbing the floor on her hands and knees at the age of 80. She was always thankful for the simple things in life and encouraged others to be as well saying “Be glad you can do that because one day you may not be able.”

Doris passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Knute Nelson at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband, James Winger of Alexandria; sons, Ross (Karen) Winger and Randy (Maureen) Winger of Alexandria; daughters, Julie (Scott) Thomas of Benson, MN and Dana (Douglas) Moyer of Alta Loma, CA; grandchildren, Emily Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Justin (Kim) Moyer, Nicole (Todd) Harvey, Gage Winger, and Madalyn Winger; great-grandchildren, Levi Harvey, Chloe Moyer, Greyson Moyer, and Emma Moyer; sister, Shirley Bird of Castle Rock, CO; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Sharon Thompson of Alexandria. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, John and Elma Loija; brother, Howard Loija; and sisters, Verna Caines, Vivian Lloyd, Violet Costello, and Gladys Norrgard.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 7, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Reverend Ben Jacobson officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM Thursday, July 6, at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria and for one hour prior to the service. Private interment will be at Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria.