Doris Gertrude Iversen, 87

Doris Iversen died on November 23, 2012 in Portland, Ore., five days short of her 88th birthday and 66th wedding anniversary to her husband, Bernard “Barney” Iversen. She was surrounded by her family and had lived optimistically while coping with breast cancer for many years.

She was the first child of Rudolph and Florence Hagen, born in Minneapolis, Minn.

She came to Wrangell with her parents and sisters, Betty and Ruth when they moved to Wrangell in 1945. Her father had been working in Alaska during the war and decided to make Wrangell the new family home. Doris had attended secretarial school in San Francisco after high school and took a job at Wrangell Drug when she arrived, working for Jim and Elsie Nolan to make enough money to return south to California.

She didn’t think too much of Wrangell after living in a large city. However, the hometown boys were returning after the war ended and one young man, Lt. Bernard Iversen, liked what he saw across the soda fountain and she didn’t get away. They were married in Wrangell in 1946 at the Wrangell Presbyterian Church and had two fun-loving and exuberant children, Julie and Peter.

Doris worked part-time but really preferred to stay home with her children and grow a garden. She was well-known for her birthday parties for the neighborhood children. Doris soon became an avid King Salmon sports fisherwoman as her husband Barney insisted on taking the family out in their ever present boat. Doris loved going out cruising and fishing and caught many prize winning Kings, including the 74 lb. 4 oz. winner that is still the largest ever caught in the Wrangell King Derby. This herculean King was on display for years at the Wrangell Airport and most recently donated to the Wrangell Museum.

Doris was a skilled gardener and excellent at refinishing furniture, knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed cooking for her family and her grandchildren have many fond memories of working side by side with her in the kitchen and garden. She made delicious bread and always cut the crust off their sandwiches.

Doris was preceded in death by her daughter Julie in 1998 and her son Peter this past October.

She is survived by her husband, Barney; siblings Betty Spencer and Roy Hagen; daughter-in-law Kathy Iversen; grandchildren Drs. Deani and Peter B. Iversen, Jr., Eric and Christine Lund, Art and Nicole Hack; and six great grandchildren. Doris was a courageous woman and her resilience and never-ending optimism will be missed by her family and those who knew her. She is finally at peace, reunited with her children.