Doris Bishop

Doris Jane Hellebust Bishop was born on a homestead north of Havre, Montana on February 19, 1926, to Norwegian immigrant parents. She attended schools on the prairie and in Havre, Montana. Following graduation, she went to work for the Montana Farmers Union. In 1947 she met and married Argyle Bishop and they settled on the Bishop homestead in Pondera County where they raised food and family. She was active in the Farmers Union, the Lutheran Church and other community organizations. She was proud of her family and grandchildren. 

 She was preceded in death by her husband Argyle Bishop; parents Isak and Ingeborg Hellebust; her siblings Ilert Hellebust, Edna Hess, Lloyd Hellebust, Audrey Schend and Ruth Bishop and grandson Kyle Rhodes. 

 She is survived by her children Trudi Peterson (Dean); Twila Burdick (Jim); Tana Bishop (Scott Burris); Tami Bishop Rhodes (Lee); Todd Bishop (Tedi). She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Benjamin Peterson, Joshua Peterson, Julia Welna, Justin Burdick, Jared Burdick, Mettie Foglio, Lora Stamper, Kitrick Rhodes, Kellen Rhodes, Raelee Rask, and Andrew Bishop. 19 great grandchildren survive and were adored by Doris. 

 Memorial service  will be held Sunday,  August 4, at  2:00pm at  Bethany Lutheran Church in Dutton. A reception at the Brady Community Hall will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Lutheran World Relief, Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp or Heifer International. 

 Todd Bishop sums up her life with the following words. “Isaac Newton said,” If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. I believe that my mother was one of those giants for me. We honor her foresight and fortitude in the 98 years she was with us. Doris Jane Hellebust Bishop was a woman ahead of her time and a person who led others. In her travels as an education leader for Farmers Union or speaker for church woman’s groups this lady from Havre, Montana became a guiding force for others to follow. Beyond the wooden spoon threatening mother who baked bread and tended garden was a giving, loving, thoughtful matriarch of the highest caliber. In her later years her knowledge of depression era economies led her on a path of creating an inconceivable amount of quilts for other needy people. In the process of raising five children in an ethical serving path, she also shepherded 11 grandchildren who were her pride and joy. Doris adored her husband, Argyle and the farm that she adopted. Together they would be toiling and cooperating for the good of the farm and the family. Now they are together again and in the presence of God who they faithfully served in their lifetimes.”