Dorys was born to Byron and Marie (Calif) Gislason in Tintah, MN on October 20, 1925. As a young girl she helped tend cattle on horseback for her father. She attended school in Morris, MN and played basketball there. During the war, she went to Seattle to work in the shipping yard. She didn’t like it so her family arranged for a friend, Leonard Richards, to go out to Seattle and bring her home.
Dorys and Leonard were married July 21, 1945 at the home of the bride’s parents in Elbow Lake, MN. They made their home on a farm in the Minneota area. Dorys mowed the cemetery for Westerheim and St. Paul’s church and cemetery. She opened a shop called the Knit and Stitch with Vi Gislason later selling it to her. She worked as a cook for Fran and Harold Stienessen. She loved hosting parties, golfing, bowling, sewing and knitting. She especially loved having her family around with Christmas being her favorite.
Dorys died Sunday February 3rd at the Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall.
She is survived by her daughters, Yvonne (Bob) Sussner, Kathryn (Robert) Gorecki, Cyndy (Tom) Benedict; son, Gary Richards; grandchildren, Sean Sussner, Jason (Cherie) Sussner, Ryan Sussner, Heather (Gorecki) LeGrand, Rustin Gorecki, Eric (Amrita) Uschold, Dan Uschold; Great Grandchildren, Elexsis LeGrand, Dalatheon LeGrand Jr, Jayda LeGrand, Lenmona Gorecki, Akasha Gorecki, Ivy Uschold and Baby Sussner on the way.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; parents, Byron and Marie Gislason; brothers, Gene and Byron Jr. Gislason; sister, Leatrice (Ed) Frikken; infant daughters, Dorys Mae and Mary Lou.
