Doreen Mae White

DOREEN MAE WHITE, age 99, of Waseca passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at New Richland Care Center.

Born on May 1, 1925, in Sherburn, MN, Doreen was the daughter of Bernard “Ben” and Clara (Eisenmenger) Leibfried. She attended Sherburn High School and graduated as valedictorian with the class of 1943. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in education at the College of St. Catherine. Following her education, she began teaching at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato. While living in Mankato she met her future husband, Thomas White and they were united in marriage on November 11, 1950, at St. Luke Catholic Church in Sherburn. 

Doreen and Tom began their life together living on a farm in rural Madison Lake before moving to Northeast Minneapolis. Doreen continued her teaching career in Centerville for a short time before taking a teaching position at Hopkins, retiring in 1997. In 2007, they moved to Waseca to be closer to their daughter, Marijo. 

In her free time, Doreen enjoyed reading, gardening, animals, knitting, and traveling with her family. She was the matriarch of her family, and she treasured the time spent with them. She will be remembered as a voice of reason, and as a peacemaker while always maintaining her gentle, mild and meek manner. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she served as a eucharistic minister to the homebound. Later in life she joined the Secular Franciscans. 

Doreen is survived by her daughter, Marijo (Tim) Fischer of Waseca; sister, Harriet Fignar of Inver Grove Heights; cherished nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas White; parents, Bernard and Clara Leibfried; brothers, Daryl Leibfried, Arthur Leibfried, Ronald Leibfried; stepbrother, John Skillings. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will take place at Marysburg Cemetery in Madison Lake.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of the angels that cared for Doreen at the New Richland Care Center and at Colony Court.