Doris Hickman

DORIS ELAINE HICKMAN was born to Alfred and Mary (Meinking) Newquist on May 22, 1934 in Iowa and raised in a farming family, living various places near Everly, May City, and Hartley, Iowa. In 1953, Doris graduated high school in Hartley. She then furthered her education at Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa. While in high school and college, Doris enjoyed singing in the school choir and participating in several productions, including ‘Messiah’ at college. In 1955, she graduated with a degree in teaching and taught at one-room school houses over the next few years throughout northwest Iowa. Doris also partner taught for a short time with her sister, Inez.

While on a blind date to Arnold’s Park on Lake Okoboji, Iowa on July 4th, 1960, Doris met her future husband, Duane Hickman. On October 1, 1961 the couple was united in marriage at St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City, Iowa. They would forevermore celebrate their July 4th anniversary. Doris and Duane built their home on Duane’s family farmstead near Ellsworth, Minnesota and raised their two daughters, Deanne and Kristie. While raising their children and completing daily chores on the farm, including milking cows, Doris continued substitute teaching. Throughout her career she taught children from kindergarten through high school and in general education classrooms to the industrial arts. The lessons in life she passed on to her daughters were to work hard and always see what you started through to its finish.

In February 2010, Doris and Duane moved to Hartford, South Dakota to be closer to family. Duane preceded her in death on February 28, 2013. Two years later, Doris moved to the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Doris died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls at the age of 81 years, one month and one day.

Doris was a member of Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. She was very dedicated to her church and taught Sunday school and confirmation class, served as Sunday school superintendent and directed the church Christmas programs for many years. Doris loved doing craft work, sewing, creating her daughter’s school classroom boards, cooking and baking, gardening and staying active with her hands.

Doris is lovingly remembered by her two children, Deanne Vortherms of Sioux Falls, and Kristie (Jim) Vortherms of Hartford; five grandchildren, Connor and McKenzie Vortherms, Serena (John) Slatinsky, and Luke and Matthew Vortherms; and a sister, Alice Brockshus of Sanborn, Iowa. She is reunited in Heaven with her husband, Duane; son-in-law, Jeff Vortherms; parents; and a sister, Inez Smith.