Doris Jane Lessman

Doris J. Lessman age 78 of Tracy, MN died Thursday, October 10, 2013 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Services will be 2:00 PM Monday, October 14, 2013 at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 PM, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Bethel Cemetery, rural Garvin, MN, with a luncheon served immediately following the graveside service, in the church social hall. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Doris Jane Lessman was born September 13, 1935 to Cleo and Martha (Bott) Willhite on the family farm in Holly Township, near Walnut Grove, MN, Redwood County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church and attended Walnut Grove Public Schools, graduating from Walnut Grove High School in 1954. As a young woman, Doris worked for Tracy Hospital and began her nursing training while she worked there. On August 13, 1960, Doris married Warner “Fritz” Lessman at the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church and they made their home in Tracy, MN. She continued her training as she worked at Tracy Hospital, and then attended Mankato State College where she received her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. She then continued working at Tracy Hospital, until the new hospital was built and the old hospital became Tracy Nursing Home, she then worked there until she retired in 1992 after nearly forty years of nursing within the community of Tracy. Doris was a past member of the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church and a current member of the Tracy United Methodist Church. She was a dedicated member of the Tracy VFW and Tracy American Legion Auxiliaries, holding many state and local office positions. She was also was a member of the Degree Of Honor Lodge for over fifty years. She enjoyed and was a long standing supporter of Scrapper/Panther athletics, playing games with her children and grandchildren, especially, the “Sorry” marble game and Kings-In-The Corner card game, and was an avid Twins and Vikings fan. In 2003, Doris moved into the O’Brien Court Apartments in Tracy. In 2012, she became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, where she died Thursday, October 10, 2013 at the age of 78. Doris is survived by her one daughter, Jeri (Keith) Schons of Tracy, MN; two sons, Jeff (Karla) Lessman of Omaha, NE and Thad (LuAnn) Lessman of Tracy, MN; eight grandchildren, Josh( Heather), James, Kylie, and Jadyn Lessman, Nick, and Tori Schons, Kristi (Kyle) Spears, and Kaitlyn (Jay) Bergmann; four great grandchildren, Ben, Naomi, Isaac Lessman and Lilly Bergmann; two brothers, Gary (Lynn) Willhite of Crookston, MN and Greg (Rita) Willhite of Hanover, MN; nieces, nephews and friends. Her husband, Warner “Fritz” Lessman, her parents, Cleo and Martha Willhite, two sisters, Donna Lovejoy and Betty Willhite preceded her in death.