Funeral Service for Doris Helen (McKee) Lizotte, 93 of Browns Valley, MN will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at United Methodist-Presbyterian Church, Browns Valley, MN with the Rev. Anna Williamson officiating. Organist will be Janet LeClair and soloist will be AnnRae Herr and special music provided by Butch Felix. Pallbearers will be Al Strom, Joel Kuschel, Kevin Steen, Scott Clark, Trevor Steen, Tyler Steen and Charley McKee. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Browns Valley Health Care Center Staff and all of the grandchildren. Interment will be in the Valley View Cemetery, Browns Valley, MN. There will be visitation on Saturday, November 28, 2009 from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. with family present from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. Doris Helen McKee was born on December 1, 1915 to Charley and Anna (Yorken) McKee at the farm home in Bryant Township, Roberts County, SD. Doris attended country school in Harmon Township. Doris enjoyed horseback riding, visiting neighbors, attending house parties. She loved music, dancing, singing, playing guitar and harmonica. In January of 1933 she married Russell Olson, and they made their home NW of Windom, SD before moving to Sisseton, SD.
In Sisseton she worked in the sewing room for the WPA. Doris was married to Odell Steen in 1938 and they made their home in Grant Township. As a housewife and mother she did gardening, canning and sewing clothes. As a farmer's wife, she helped with chores and field work. At harvest time, she cooked for threshers. She cooked many a pheasant dinner for hunters, who came from out of state, to hunt on the farm land. In 1952 she began working at the Municipal Lounge in Browns Valley, MN, where she worked for several years. In 1960, she moved to Pierre, SD where she was employed as a cocktail waitress at the Silver Spur. Odell died in the spring of 1962. Doris met Oscar Lizotte of Belcourt, ND and they were united in marriage in 1965 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Lame deer, Montana. Doris was employed as a clerk at the Trading Post Store. She enjoyed nature, animals and birds. When traveling, she often times would take one of her many bird books along so as to identify an unknown bird or two. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, crocheting, cooking, baking, crossword puzzles, scrapbooks, photography, reading books and playing cards. She enjoyed clothes, cars, fishing and traveling. She enjoyed life, joking, laughing and always had the coffee pot ready when you came to her house along with something she had baked. Those, who have known her over the years, describe her as a "Classy Lady" with a twinkle in her eye and a good sense of humor. In 1975, they moved to Browns Valley, MN where Doris worked for many years as a hostess and waitress at the Valley Hai Supper Club. Following the death of her husband, Oscar in August 1996, Doris's health began to fail and, on April 26, 1999 she became a resident at the Browns Valley Health Care Center, Browns Valley, MN. Doris passed away on November 24, 2009 at the Browns Valley Health Care Center, Browns Valley, MN.
Doris is survived by one daughter, Dorothy Olson-Clark and husband Fritz Fiala; four sons, Darrell and wife, Glenda Olson of Denver, Co, Carmen and wife, Shirley Steen of Sisseton, SD, Kervin and wife, Karen Steen of Sisseton, SD, and Harlen and wife, Deena Steen of Raymond, MN; one brother, Howard McKee of Enumclaw, WA; twenty five grandchildren, 51+ great-grandchildren, and 13+ great-great-grand children; and one cousin, Wallace and wife, Ardyce McKee of Rosholt, SD.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Russell Olson, Odell Steen and Oscar Lizotte; and infant daughter, Audrey Olson and a daughter, Darla Olson Batch Becker.