Doris Leone Mickelson was born October 12, 1922, the 3rd of 12 children born to Roy and Edith (Clayton) Chord in a dugout near McCurdy Springs. She grew up at the ranch south of White Owl, attended rural school, graduated from Whitewood High School, and attended 2 years at Black Hills Teacher's College. After which, she taught for one year in Whitewood. Later in life, amidst teaching school, raising kids, and helping run the ranch, Doris completed her bachelor's degree in education.

On August 8, 1943, Doris married Lee Mickelson at the White Owl Church. The morning before the wedding, she butchered and fried 21 chickens for the wedding dinner. During church, the church was so packed that she had to sit on the groom's lap, and they were married after the service. Grasshoppers were so thick that year,that they ate holes in her wedding gown walking from the back to the front of the church. She and Lee enjoyed riding horses, though legend has it, he gave away his first horse to show that he loved her more. He worked for "Pop" Chord and Joe Brown while she taught at the Lone Pine School. She rode a horse to the school most days with her much younger brother, Paul, on back. One day, the horse startled, and Paul landed in a cactus heap. They moved to the ranch they bought at Enning where they raised seven children.

After losing their infant daughter, Verna, they committed their lives to Jesus. If the church was having a service, then the family would be there. A devotional was read at every breakfast, and later in life, she would read the Bible 1 to 3 hours a day. She overcame adversity as a teenager with a strong faith in God. She loved to help others overcome their adversity by praying and sharing scriptures with them. Doris was committed to pray sometimes for over an hour for every family member, missionaries, churches, pastors, and leaders of our country every day. She was tenacious and strong in life and tried to attend all important events in her children's lives. She was an encourager and exhorter and #1 cheerleader in our lives.

Doris had a passion for teaching and taught in rural Meade County over 20 years. She was an avid gardener and especially loved her flower beds. Her sweetheart picked her bouquets of wildflowers every summer, on his way in from the hayfields. At one time, she raised over 300 chickens for eggs and meat. Their farm was centered around horses, dairy, and beef cattle. She taught Sunday School at the White Owl Church for many years. After retirement, she found satisfaction in helping people find wellness with Melaleuca products.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Darrel & Connie Mickelson, Linda & Jim Peterson, Darwin Mickelson, Sam Mickelson, Anne & Jimmy Alexander, Rose and Doug Heffern, Martha and Dennis Hall, special daughter-in-law Margie, 27 grandchildren, and 36 great grandchildren. Also surviving her are siblings: Zoe, Iris, Richard, Ruth, Ilowee, and Paul (Paolo) and many nieces and nephews.

She went home to glory on June 20, 2014. Her husband, Lee Mickelson, infant daughter, Verna, special daughter-in-law Della Rae, her parents, her brothers: Don, Wayne, Everett, Vernon, and an infant boy preceded her.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2014, at the Central Meade County Community Center in Union Center with Rev. David Grotzke officiating. Burial will follow at the White Owl Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Memorials have been established to the Sunshine Bible Academy and White Owl Church.

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