Dorris Minnie Hamilton

Dorris Minnie Friede Hamilton

December 14, 1930 – September 7, 2021

Dorris Minnie Hamilton was born on December 14, 1930 to Herman W and Grace V (Hutchinson) Friede in Harlem, MT at the home of her Great Aunt & Uncle Susie and John Soderstom, and was raised in the Paradise Valley near Zurich, MT on her folk’s farm.

She attended 1st grade at the North Fork School, 2nd to 8th grade at Zurich, and graduated from Chinook High School with the Class of 1949. She went on to attend one year of Nursing School at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Havre, MT in 1949 and 1950. In the fall of 1950, she drove truck for Bert Murphy hauling sugar beets, making $172 in wages that she used to buy a wedding dress and household items.

On November 3, 1950 she married John M Hamilton, a high school classmate, in her folk’s home. To this union six children were born – Ivan, Claude, Alan, Darlynn, Mark, and Darin. In addition, their door was opened to many other children during their 51 years together.

Dorris was involved in many of her children’s activities: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, school sports, 4-H, and church. She served as the sewing leader for the Better Livestock 4-H Club for many years, was a long-time member of TOPS and the Jumping Juniper Garden Club, worked the flower booth at the County Fair, volunteered at the Food Pantry as well as cooking for and managing the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. She loved helping the Quilt for World Wide Relief at the Lutheran Church, volunteering at the Senior Center and the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home where she worked for a time when it first opened its doors. She was also known as a pretty good cook contributing to many holiday and family gatherings with fresh rolls and homemade pies.

She was active in the Chinook Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served two terms as Relief Society President. Dorris and John were members of the Blue Horizon Camping Chapter of the Good Sam Club where they enjoyed camping and traveling with friends and made a couple of trips to southern Arizona in their motorhome to escape the Montana winters.

Dorris is survived by her children: Ivan (Sharon) - Omaha, NE, Claude - Evanston, WY, Alan - Seeley Lake, MT, Darlynn - Lacy, WA, Mark (Holly) - Potomac, MT, and Darin (Elaine) - Chinook, MT; sisters Joanne Scow - West Valley Utah, and Paulette Ludwig – Las Vegas, NV; brothers Gary (Susan) – Jensen Beach, FL, Steve (Susie) – Havre, MT; sister-in-law: Lacene Friede – Seeley Lake, and her family; grandchildren: Michelle (Ryan) Hamilton-Knispel and children – Quinn, Josh, Spencer, Sydney, and Ryan John – Omaha, NE; Lindsay (Craig) Poe and children – Julianna, Gabriella, Evan, and Allayna – Manhattan, KS; Temina (McKay) Olson and children – McKina, Garion, McKeon, and Gavin – Havre, MT; Ian (Olivia) Hamilton and children Keeda Rose and Adam – Evanston, WY; Lann Hamilton – Richfield, UT and his son Layne; Ileah (Edward) McLelland and children Connor, Hanna, Nalla, and Charles – Richfield, UT; Charles Wright – South Korea, Kristopher Wright – McCleary, WA, Kristin (Nathan) Hamilton-Troutman – Asheville, NC; Scott Hamilton – Missoula, MT and Travis Hamilton – Missoula, MT.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents Herman and Grace, sister Phyllis, brothers Earl and Ross, and foster brother Dennis Galer, all her aunts and uncles, and many cousins.

Memorials may be made to the Chinook Senior Citizens Center, the Blaine County Ambulance, the Blaine County Wildlife Museum, or to an organization of your choice.

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