Doris Irma Keller, age 87, a long-time resident of Sweet Home and Lebanon, died peacefully on October 3, 2008. She was born in Blue Grass, North Dakota to William and Lea Bauer on June 17, 1921.

Doris met Alton Keller while the two grew up on neighboring farms. They married November 28, 1943 in North Dakota. In 1946, Doris and her two children moved west by train to Sweet Home. Alton had come out prior and found work as a carpenter and later sent for them to join him. Another son was born in 1947 in Sweet Home.

Alton’s skills as a carpenter proved helpful in establishing and building the Bethel Lutheran Church; and later becoming the the construction supervisor at White’s Electronics.

Church life was very important to Doris. Equally important was family. She and her husband enjoyed outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing and spending time with her children and, later, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Years later, four of Doris’ siblings moved out west to the Sweet Home area.

Her husband, Alton, passed away in 1983. She continued to live in Sweet Home until the late 1980s, when she moved to Lebanon. There, she began attending Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Four years ago, Doris moved to Willamette Manor, where she was very happy and enjoyed the people who helped care for her.

Doris is survived by sons, Kenneth Keller and wife Jan of Edmonds, WA, Keith Keller and wife Cherri of The Dalles, OR, and Larry Keller and wife Lynda of Lakewood, CO; siblings, Ruth Gray, Marvin Bauer, Anita Flemmer, Lloyd Bauer, Arlois Bauer, and Janice Eggers; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Her husband, Alton, and siblings, Edgar Bauer, Verona Breimeier, and Bernice Adolf, all preceded Doris in death.

A viewing will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, October 6, 2008 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 noon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or your favorite charity. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.