Doris Josephine Harvala

Doris Josephine Harvala

Doris Josephine Harvala, age 100, of Park Rapids, MN, formerly of Wolf Lake Township near Osage, passed away on October 24th, 2024 at Heritage Living Nursing Home in Park Rapids Minnesota.

Doris was born August 8th, 1924, in Runeberg Township of Becker County near Menahga MN. As a young girl, Doris moved with her family to a farm in Spruce Grove Township and attended District #75 Country School. She was baptized and confirmed in her faith as a youth at Bethany Lutheran Church, where she remained a member for her entire life. As a young woman, Doris did housekeeping and child care for several area families.

On October 6th of 1946, Doris was united in marriage to Rueben L Harvala. This union was blessed with five children: Dianne, Larry, Janice, Kathy, and Kristi. She devoted her life to caring for her family and spent her days cleaning, cooking, and sewing to provide for her family. Each spring she would plant a large vegetable garden, that she would tend and nurture, along with her beautiful flower gardens. Doris always enjoyed country life and had a deep love for nature. She was an avid animal lover and had many cats and dogs over the years. Doris was fond of music, puzzles, reading, and playing many games, most of all Scrabble. Above all, Doris dedicated her life to the happiness of her family, of whom she loved with all her heart.

Doris is survived by her children: Larry Harvala (wife Mary) of Osage MN; Janice Johnson (husband Ron) of Hutchinson MN; Kathy Totushek (husband Scott) of Silver Lake MN; Kristi Lofgren (husband Brian) of Rush City MN; 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, as follows: Rachael Fulkerson (Paul), Rogers MN, children John and Joe; Sara Thulin, St Paul MN, children Jordan, Nick (Alyssa, children Ellie and Jacob), Devyn; Niki Mackedanz (Matt), Hutchinson MN, children Jayden and Dawson; Melissa Koch (Kyle), Sebeka MN, son Clinton; Adam Harvala (Kasey), West Fargo ND, children Joshua, Miriam, Emilie and Victoria; Kim Jacobson (Andrew), Hutchinson MN, children Skylyn, Tuker, and Bekett; Paul Harvala, Mandan ND; Jeremy Johnson (Leigha), Hutchinson MN, children Sawyer and Maguire; Tony Totushek (Kayla), Hutchinson MN; Daniel Harvala (Tawni), Grand Forks ND, children Alex, Logan, Mari and Oskar; Derek Totushek, Silver Lake MN; Emily Hutcheson, Rush City MN; Erin Hutcheson, Anoka MN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Gotfred and Emelia Westerberg; father/mother-in-law Andrew and Alma Harvala; spouse Rueben Harvala; daughter Dianne Nordstrom; son-in-law Dwight Nordstrom; sisters Alice Blakeman, Ella Bergstrom; brothers Howard, Lloyd, Lowell, Raymond, twin brother Donald and baby Marvin.