June 17, 1921 — Oct. 3, 2008

Doris Irma Keller, 87, a long-time resident of Sweet Home and Lebanon, died peacefully on Friday.

She was born in Blue Grass, N.D., to William and Lea Bauer.

She met Alton Keller while growing up on neighboring farms. The two married on Nov. 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 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 as well. 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 three sons, Kenneth Keller and wife Jan of Edmonds, Wash., Keith Keller and wife Cherri of The Dalles, and Larry Keller and wife Lynda of Lakewood, Colo.; six siblings, Ruth Gray, Marvin Bauer, Anita Flemmer, Lloyd Bauer, Arlois Bauer and Janice Eggers; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

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

A viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home. A memorial service will follow at noon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or your favorite charity.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling funeral arrangements (www.sweethomefuneral.com).