Doris M. Hokel

Doris M. Hokel was born April 17, 1918 in Nevada, Iowa to Albert and Ruth Soderstrom Johnson. The family lived in Pilot Mound before moving to Stanhope in 1926. Following high school graduation in 1935, she worked at the telephone company in Stanhope. On January 18, 1940 she was married to her 7th grade sweetheart, Irwin L. Hokel. After the wedding, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she worked various secretarial jobs. In 1942 Doris and Irwin moved to Redwood Falls, MN where Irwin was relocated with Civil Service. Irwin had joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, so Doris traveled with him during the next three years. In 1946 the couple moved to Spencer where they owned and operated Hokel's Standard Service and Cabin Court. They built the Spencer Motel which Doris managed from 1956 until 1963, when they sold the property. Instead of retiring, Doris was office manager for Younker's until the early 1970's. Their move to West Lake Okoboji was in 1969. While in Spencer, Doris was a member of Eastern Star, Mother Singers and Bethany Lutheran Church where she sang many solos. Doris enjoyed driving her black convertible around the lakes, sewing, hand work, crafts, fishing, swimming, music, traveling, spending winters in Florida and Texas and her friends and family. She was a member of First Lutheran Church of Milford and was active in Bible studies, choir and quilting. Doris passed from this life on Monday, November 24, 2008. Surviving are daughters, Ann Hokel of Wahpeton and Ruth Peters and her husband, Bob, of Jackson Hole, WY; grandson, Jeff Carpenter and his wife, Nanette; granddaughter, Christine Gonzalez and her husband, Victor; great grandchildren, Jeffery, Joshua and Jacob Carpenter and Justin, Victor and Ashley Gonzalez.