STURGIS - Iza Doering, age 99, died Monday, July 6, 2009 at the Sturgis Regional Hospital. She was born October 5, 1909 to Carl G. and Elizabeth Gunkel, pioneer ranchers, at the family ranch 23 miles Southwest of Belfield, ND. Iza was one of seven children, two boys and five girls. She attended school through the 8th grade in a one-room country schoolhouse. She graduated from Belfield High School. After graduation she attended Dickinson State Normal School in Dickinson, ND and finished with a teaching certificate. She taught school in rural, one room schoolhouses in Billings County, North Dakota from 1930 to 1935. Her daily transportation to and from school was by horseback, during her teaching years she never had a car.

She married Herbert V. Doering Sr. on December 27, 1934 in Wibaux, Montana. After the marriage she went back to teaching at Matteson School until school let out in the spring of 1935. She lived in North Dakota until early 1942 when she moved with her family to Wendell, Idaho for the building of a Japanese internment camp, Camp Minidoka. She stayed there until the camp was completed in early September 1942. The family moved to Sturgis, SD in October 1942 where her husband worked for the McMahon Company, a feed, seed and grain elevator in Sturgis. They bought a nice brick house at 837 Dudley Street where she lived for over 60 years. In 2002 she moved to the Key City Retirement home. She worked at Dodson's Grocery from 1968 until it closed in 1978. She then worked at the Sturgis Senior Citizens center as hostess from 1978 until 1995. She is a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sturgis. She has been an active member of the Rebekah Lodge # 36 and the VFW Auxiliary. Iza has been a great friend to many people over the years; her kind and easy listening approach along with her willingness to give advice in privacy were her most endearing charms.

All four of her children completed elementary and high school in Sturgis. Iza had children in the Sturgis Public School system for 32 years, from 1942 when Charles entered, until Cathie graduated in 1975. All four of her children graduated from college at Black Hills State College with Bachelors Degrees.

She is survived by her four children, Charles and Jane Doering, Bellevue, NE; Duke and Susan Doering, Rapid City, SD; Herb Jr. and JoAnn Doering, Gothenburg, NE; and Cathie and Tom Anderson, Sturgis, SD. Ten (10) grandchildren, Mike Doering, Rapid City, SD, Barry Doering, Rapid City, SD, Todd Doering, Omaha, NE; Danelle Branjord, Sioux Falls, SD; Tawnya Strauser, Gothenburg, NE; Tamara Ruggles, Bismarck, ND; Jennifer Concepcion, Valrico, FL; Melissa Doering, Brandon, FL; Eric Anderson, Salt Lake City, UT; and Jesse Anderson, Spearfish, SD. She also has eleven (11) great-grandchildren, Alexis, Mitchell, Chanse, Reece, Jade, Kynlee, Kellen, Kalli, Eva, Brady and Jacob. She is also survived by three sisters, Margaret Griffin, Dickinson, ND; Helen Lindbo, Belfield, ND and Gertrude Scott, Alburnette, Iowa.

She is preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, one sister, and one grandson, Casey Anderson.

Visitation will be Thursday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10, 1009, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Senior Citizens' Center.