Helen Doris Dashel, age 96, passed into the arms of God on September 5, 2018. She was born on August 7, 1922 in Aberdeen, SD, the daughter of John William and Jessie Fern (Fox) McDonald.
As a farm girl in Barnard, SD, Doris lived through the Dust Bowl, survived tornadoes, read by kerosene lamps in rooms heated by wood stoves, and attended a one-room schoolhouse. She married Vern George Dashel in the throes of the WWII when he came home on leave. After WWII, Doris and Vern moved to Bremerton, WA, where they raised their family. They retired to Reno, NV in the late 1970’s. After Vern’s death in 1991, Doris moved to Mill Creek, WA to be closer to her children. She died at Creekside Continuing Care in Burlington, WA.
Doris worked as a Professional Union Tailor and seamstress, sewing for JC Penney, Country Casuals, Grey Reid, and private clients. In retirement, she volunteered her time sewing hospital gowns for Hospice. She was active in the Mill Creek Seniors’ Association and was chairwoman of the Mill Run II Homeowners’ Association through which she led a successful effort to get a guardrail (unofficially known as “Doris’ Guardrail”) installed outside the entrance to her condominium complex.
Doris stayed active and kept herself fit. As a young woman, she roller skated semi-professionally and later in life was an excellent bowler and horseshoe player. She attended jazzercise classes into her 90’s and played the piano and organ most of her life. She was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton and Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Everett.
She is survived by her children, Doreen (Jim) Hamilton, Carol (Lynn) Torset, Gregory (Peggy) Dashel and Thomas (Kristi) Dashel; grandchildren, John (Jeannette) Hamilton, Catlin Hamilton, Jaime (Nicholas) Cutone, Samuel (Heather) Torset, Frank Dashel, Jordan and Delaney Dashel, Colin (Elisa) Dashel, Meaghan (Loren) Aubuchon, Tammy (Mick) Buchanan, Jake (Nelia) Torset and Corie (Rachael) Harrison; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren..
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern; daughter, Nancy Harrison; grandson, Nicholas Dashel; brother, Eugene McDonald.
Services will be held in Nevada and she will be buried next to her late husband, Vern at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
