Doris Aline Donaldson Siemsen
Doris Aline Donaldson Siemsen, 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
Viewing for friends and family will be held Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at 3 p.m. at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sandpoint.
Doris, known fondly as Dorie by her family and friends, was born to Arthur and Orpha Donaldson on April 7, 192,6 in Loma Linda, Calif. She joined two brothers, Norton and Clarence (known as Bud). Her parents moved shortly thereafter to Santa Ana, Calif.
She graduated with a pre-nursing degree from La Sierra College, Riverside, Calif., in 1945. She was a busy student and was an officer in many campus clubs. She played first violin in the school orchestra and in a special trio. She received her master’s degree in nursing from Loma Linda University in 1948.
While at Loma Linda University, she met the love of her life: a fun loving, yet studious medical student, Franz Siemsen. They married on Dec. 18, 1947, in Santa Anna, Calif.
They moved to Sandpoint in the fall of 1951 to open Franz’s medical practice. Doris worked as Franz’s nurse, lab technician, receptionist and biller.
Over the next few years their family grew and four children joined them; Debbie in 1952, Patti in 1954, Donald in 1961 and David in 1964.
Though raised a Californian girl, she learned to love snow. Most of all she liked to ski in it. She was an excellent skier and she has the distinction of being the first woman to ski down Schweit-zer Ski Resort when it was still in the development and visioning stage.
Her commitment to excellence served her church and community well. When she wasn’t at home or working at Franz’s medical practice, she was actively involved in her church and its school, serving on boards and committees.
She truly was a giving wife, mother, grama, and friend. She will be greatly missed. She was a friend of Jesus, our Savior, and knew that she would be a part of the resurrection when Jesus comes again.
Doris Donaldson is survived by two daughters, Debbie (Lawrence) Letniak of Veteran, AB and Patti (Steve) Schultz of Post Falls, Idaho; and two sons, Donald (Cyndie) Siemsen of Tillamook, Ore., and David (Sue) Siemsen of Newport, Wash. She has 12 grandchildren, Heather, Ryan, Kevin, Jodi, Nicole, Sydney, Jacob, Spencer, Tanner, Samantha, Joe, and Travis; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franz Siemsen; her parents, and her two brothers.
Memorial donations may be made to Sandpoint Junior Academy, 2255 Pine St., Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Dorie’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com. You are invited to share your memories and sign her guest book.