Doris Luella Blohm, age 81, of Kiester, died Sunday Dec. 28, 2003, at her home in Kiester.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. The Rev. Richard Steffen will officiate. Visitation will be at the Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday

Doris Luella Hovland was born to Christian and Anna (Barnes) Hovland on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922, in Kossuth County, Iowa, near rural Elmore. She grew up in the Elmore and Bricelyn areas, and was confirmed at Bricelyn Lutheran Church. She graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1939, attended the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture in St. Paul and worked as a secretary at Boote’s Hatchery in Worthington. After moving to Minneapolis, she worked as a secretary at Art Instruction Schools and at the University of Minnesota Dairy Division. On Aug. 4, 1946, she married Henry Blohm at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Bricelyn. They lived in St. Paul, briefly in Glenwood and Winnebago, and moved to Kiester in December of 1953. For many years, she worked alongside her husband Henry in his veterinary practice and she loved animals.

Throughout her children’s school years, she was active as a Girl Scout leader, FHA mother and many other school volunteer activities. She was an active member of Immanuel and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and its WELCA. Her Norwegian heritage was an important part of her life.

Norwegian was her first language and she enjoyed using it on a trip to Norway in 1978, when she finally met her Norwegian cousins. Her family was primary in her life, and she especially enjoyed the company of children. Art, photography, music and reading were Doris’ lifelong interests. She was seldom without sketchbooks, cameras or reading materials. From childhood on, she created drawings, paintings, and photos that have left a legacy for her family.

She is survived by her husband, Henry Blohm of Kiester; six daughters and their families: Susan Blohm of Arden Hills, Minn., Nancy and Allan Halvorsen of Emmons, Carol and Brad Soma of Kiester, Diane and Lee Reiersgord of Edina, Janet and Vaughan Pultz of Decorah, Iowa, and Karen and Daniel Black of Waverly, Iowa; grandchildren: Anne (Halvorsen) and Michael Doucot and Vanessa of Minneapolis, Mark and Amber Halvorsen of Marysville, Ohio, Christine and Michael Soma of Kiester, Britt and Kristian Reiersgord of Edina; Ruslan and Svetlana Pultz of Decorah, Iowa, and

Ruth and Rachel Black of Waverly, Iowa; one sister, Agnes Hansberger-Winzer of Worthington; one brother, Howard and wife Eunice Hovland of Baltic, S.D.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Telford, Benjamin, Laurence and Harold, sisters-in-law: Lois Hovland Ellingson and Lucille Hovland; and brothers-in-law: Dale Hansberger, Charles Winzer, Charles Blohm and Joe Cummins.