Doretta Mae Miller, 96, of Mesa, AZ and Crookston, MN, passed away peacefully at Santé of Mesa early Tuesday morning, January 31, 2017 following a short illness.
Doretta was born on June 21, 1920 at Lamberton, MN, the daughter of John and Ella (Roth) Marben. She was raised in Lamberton, and graduated from Lamberton High School.
On June 23, 1939, Doretta was united in marriage to L. Eugene (Gene) Miller in Lamberton, MN. Doretta was employed by Lyle Porter Accounting in Tracy, MN from 1949 until moving to Crookston, MN in 1962. In Crookston, she worked at Town and Country as their bookkeeper until her retirement in 1981. She and Gene spent their summers at their home located at Ballard’s Resort at Lake of the Woods and starting in 1983, their home in Mesa, AZ. Sadly, Gene passed away on February 2, 1999. Doretta continued to winter (late Sept. to May) in Mesa, AZ following his death and lived with her daughter, Nancie, in Crookston during the summer months.
Doretta will be remembered as a very feisty and adventurous woman, she went parasailing in Mexico at age 89 and tubing behind a speed boat at Maple Lake at age 94. In 2007 she and her daughters traveled to Germany to visit family including two first cousins whom she met for the first time. She loved golfing (she played her last round on December 8, 2016 despite having been legally blind for over 20+ years), swimming, bowling, reading (listening to books), watching baseball (MN Twins) and basketball (Phoenix Suns). She was the water aerobics instructor at Park Place Resort for many years and continued to be the first one in the pool on most mornings, right up until December of 2016. She was a loving, beautiful woman and all who knew Doretta will remember a very classy lady.
Doretta was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary and Eagles Auxiliary. Doretta will be very lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her 2 daughters: Sheryl (David) Spencer, Tracy, MN and Nancie Hoerner, Mesa, AZ/Crookston, MN; 5 Grandchildren: Dawn (Denny) Schroeder, Tracy, MN, Brian (Shannon) Voges, Sioux Falls, SD, T. J. (Krista) Voges, Morris, MN, Tara (Troy) Olson, Bismarck, ND and Brett (Leanne Woodward) Hoerner, St. Louis Park, MN, 11 Great Grandchildren, Brianna (Adam) Dolney, Brandon Schroeder, Keisha Voges, Kelsey Voges, Trevor Voges, Tylie Olson, Taya Olson, Tessa Olson, TJ Olson, Owen Hoerner and Elena Miller, beloved Great Great Grandson Abel Dolney, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Art (Carmen) and Bob (Grace) and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Doretta was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; parents, John and Ella Marben; brothers Darrel and John, and sisters, Lucille and Margery. Arrangements are with Sonoran Skies Mortuary, Mesa AZ. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. Burial of cremains will be in Tracy, MN. Memorials should go to Minnesota Library for the Blind; or any charity of your choice.