Archived Services

Doris Duffy
01-22-2022

Doris Duffy was gently called home Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the Dougherty Hospice House. Doris was born on July 5, 1918 to Mabel (Smith) and Deno Erdmann near Stratford, South Dakota. Doris lived on the family farm near Ferney and attended grade school in a one room school house. There were times when Doris rode the family pony to school.  

When it came time for high school, Doris went to school in Groton and because of distance, boarded with a family during the week. Doris was often found in her Aunt Matilda’s kitchen cooking for the harvesting crews, which no doubt laid the ground work for the amazing cook and baker she became. After high school, Doris enrolled in beauty school in Council Bluffs, Iowa. While attending school, Doris met her future husband, James Duffy. Doris and James were married in Omaha, Nebraska on June 26, 1940. Their first child, Cheranne was born in Omaha.   James worked for Addressograph-Multigraph Corp. and was soon transferred to Indianapolis, Indiana. The time in Indianapolis was short, as James was sent to Syracuse, New York, where their second child, Gary was born.

WW II was still going on and James was drafted into the Navy. Doris and the children moved back to Omaha to be near family. While James was away, Doris did her part for the war effort by becoming a “Rosie the Riveter”, working at the Glenn L. Miller Bomber Plant near Omaha. Doris worked riveting the wings on the B 29 Superfortress.   

After the War, the couple’s third child, Michael was born. In 1947, the couple settled in Sioux Falls, SD. James continued working for Addressograph Multigraph, while Doris enjoyed staying home with her children. In 1954 they were surprised with a last child, daughter Maywin.

When all the kids were in school, Doris began volunteering at Crippled Children’s Hospital and School. Every Monday found Doris helping get children ready for swimming and dressing them when they were done. This involved diapering, taking off and putting on braces and Doris loved every minute of it.

In 1979, Doris was honored with the” Mayors Volunteer of the Year” Award and in 1987 she was chosen for the Sertoma “Service to Mankind” Award. Doris also became involved in politics and spent many hours stuffing envelopes, answering phones and any other jobs that needed doing. Doris loved everyone and it showed. She became known as the “Ginger Snap Lady”. She baked the most delicious cookies and shared them with her neighbors, workers at the Grocery store, her doctor, dentist, and the priests and fellow volunteers at St. Michael Church. Doris converted to the Catholic Faith and she and her family were members of St. Joseph Cathedral. In later years after they moved, Doris and James attended St. Michael.

 Doris was preceded in death by her parents, two siblings, son, Michael, son-in-law, Bud Anderson and her husband, James. Grateful for having her in our life are her children: Cherie Anderson, Parker, SD, Gary (Rosemary) Duffy, Smithville, Mo., Maywin (Tony) Thoreson, Brandon, SD; 6 grandchildren: Michael Anderson, Michelle Anderson, Aaron Thoreson, Sarah Thoreson, Lindsey (Dave) Hansen, Ben (Jenny) Thoreson and; 5 great-grandchildren.  Memorials may be directed to the Sioux Falls Humane Society.

A Committal Service will be Saturday, April 30, 2022, 9:30 AM at St. Michael Cemetery. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 30, 2022 at St. Michael Parish at 10:30 AM.