Doris (Minks) Nelsen

M. Doris (Minks) Nelsen, age 90, of Milaca, passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Princeton Elim Home.  A memorial service will be held Friday, August 10, 2018 at 2 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Stephen Blenkush officiating.  Interment will follow at Wendell Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

M. Doris (Minks) Nelsen was born February 11, 1928 to August and Emma Lamprecht. She was the youngest of eight children. She grew up in Bogus Brook Township and attended District #28 country school and graduated from Milaca High School.  She lived in the area all of her life.  During this time, Doris taught Sunday and Bible School.

Doris met Robert Von Vett at a dance at Ann Lake.  They were united in marriage April 23, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca.  They had one daughter, Donna Le.  They farmed on her mother’s home place and in May of 1953, Robert passed away.

Doris married Cleon Minks March 19, 1954 and to this union four children were born, Jeffrey, John, Scott and Sallie Jo.  They purchased a farm in Bogus Brook and continued to live there.

Besides working on the farm she was employed at Whitcomb’s Nursery and Welcomer’s Restaurant.  She was a 4-H leader for 27 years and a member of the Princeton Legion Auxilliary.  She was an excellent baker and well known for her amazing caramel and cinnamon rolls.  For many years, she baked rolls for the deer hunters.  When her grandchildren got older, she would give them a dozen rolls for Christmas, which they loved.

While raising her own children, she welcomed nieces and nephews to stay at the farm.  Everyone felt welcomed and many great memories were made.  This continued with her grandchildren, they loved spending time with grandma.

In July of 1985, Doris married Gordon Nelsen, welcoming his four daughters, Melody, Cheryl, Wendy and Laurie.  They continued living on the farm.  Doris worked at Freichels’ Super Valu in the bakery for eight years.  They enjoyed camping, country music, going to auction sales and eventually wintering in Arizona.  She lived on the family farm until the fall of 2013, where she enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the fields be planted and harvested.

Doris passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

Doris is survived by daughters, Donna (Jim) Skogquist and Sallie Sueverkruepp;  sons, Jeffrey (Linda) Minks, John Minks and Scott Minks; step-daughters, Melody Nelsen, Cheryl (Jim) Riley and Laurie (Jim) Wilcox;  grandchildren, Dorian (Eric) Sjogren, Derek (Erin) Bruflodt, Tori (Dale) Shelly, Katrina Minks, Chris Minks, Jerod Minks, Kendra Minks, Austin Sueverkruepp and Abbi Sueverkruepp;  11 great-grandchildren;  step-grandchildren, Heather (Brad) Lehman, Rayelle Hite, Amanda (Brad) Buss, Doug (Tricia) Gossen, Chelsea Riley, Jolee Ackerman, Laura Johnson, Dayna Norby, Justin Bairer and Stacey Bairer;  13 step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents;  four brothers;  three sister; husbands, Robert, Cleon and Gordon; son-in-law, Michael Bruflodt; step-daughter, Wendy Johnson and grandson, Charlie Minks.