Doris Margaret Markel

Doris Margaret Markel, age 81 of Larimore, formally of Park River passed away on Saturday August 18, 2018 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks surrounded by many family members.

Doris Margaret Martineau was born August 28, 1936 to a French Canadian Lorenzo Martineau and Margaret (Wills) Martineau an Irish mother. She grew up on a farm outside of Pembina, ND as one of the middle children in a family of thirteen. Doris attended and graduated from Pembina High School.

Doris was united in marriage to Richard T. Markel on April 3, 1959 in Crystal, ND. They lived in Hoople, ND, Grafton, ND where they had 3 children before moving to Park River, ND.  Upon settling in Park River they owned and operated a furniture store.  Doris retired from the State Developmental Center in Grafton, ND. After the passing of her husband she moved to Grand Forks and spent her final years at the Assisted Living Center in Larimore, ND.

She enjoyed spending time with her family especially at Christmas. Her family loved her child-like joy and surprise when opening gifts. She enjoyed watching old western shows and we will never forget the crush she had on Michael Landon (the dad from Little House on the Prairie).  Wheel of Fortune was another favorite and she would usually get the answers before the contestants would.  She had the spirit of a dreamer of one day hitting the lottery and helping everyone in her family make their dreams come true.  She was a woman of very few words but she expressed her love through baking and she always made sure you had enough to eat before you left.  Some of her favorite recipes included cookie salad, zucchini bread, and we will never forget her strawberry jam.

She was preceded in death by her both of her parents, her husband Richard T. Markel, her brothers: Pete and George, her sisters: Louise and Elmere. Doris is survived by her children Kelly (Ron) Anderson, Grand Forks, ND; Wade (Kathy) Markel, Grafton, ND; and Bonnie (Dan) Howland; Scappoose, OR, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by six sisters and one brother: Fay Quam, Frances Sather, Joyce Wosick, Judy (Gary) Hove, Wanda DuRain, Connie Bushaw and Bill Martineau.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at the Federated Church of Park River.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 -7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River.  Friends may also call at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Park River.