Cover photo for Doris Enquist's Obituary
Doris Enquist Profile Photo
1922 Doris 2020

Doris Enquist

September 18, 1922 — February 20, 2020

Milbank, SD

Doris A. Enquist, age 97, of Milbank, SD, passed away on February 20, 2020, at Avantara in Milbank.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. Pastor Timothy Koch will officiate. Burial will be in the Tabor Lutheran Cemetery in Strandburg, SD. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 24, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Tuesday.

Doris A. Enquist was born on September 18, 1922, at the farm home near Milbank to Alex and Frieda (Oehm) Hajenga. She was baptized on November 12, 1922, and confirmed on March 21, 1937, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. She attended Melrose #6 Country School and Milbank High School, graduating in 1941. Doris attended Peabody School of Nursing in Webster, SD, and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1944. Later in her career, she took classes at South Dakota State University and Presentation College.

Doris married Clarence Andrew Enquist on February 12, 1944, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Denver, CO, while Clarence was in the Army Air Corps. They moved to Milbank in 1946.

Doris was known for her boundless energy, devotion, and compassionate service to others in the community. She was the night nurse at St. Bernard’s Hospital for many years and served many hours of private duty at the hospital and in private homes. Doris also did private duty at Memorial Hospital in Watertown, SD, Ortonville Community Hospital in Ortonville, MN, and Deuel County Memorial Hospital in Clear Lake, SD.

Doris was the first Grant County Public Health Nurse, the first administrator of the Whetstone Valley Nursing Home, and served for many years as a nurse on emergency ambulance service. She was a member of the Grant County Visiting Neighbor Board, she was named Director of Volunteers for Valley Hospice, and she helped start Special Education in Milbank and Revillo schools. She received the special recognition award in 1985 from the Association for Retarded Citizens. Doris was active for many years in the Grant County Mental Health Organization and was a member of the South Dakota State Mental Health Advisory Council. She served eight years with the South Dakota Board for Nursing Home Administrators. She was a member of the Special Olympics Committee for seven years and a member of many service organizations. She served for 65 years in the American Legion Auxiliary, Birch-Miller Post #9.

Doris led several women’s bible study groups, taught Sunday School, and taught midweek religion classes at Emanuel Lutheran Church. She was also active with LWML, both locally and in the district. Doris gave up her RN certification in 2009 after 65 years; that decision did not stop her activities. In addition to her professional duties in the latter part of her life, she was completely committed to spreading Christ’s love through mission work, going on mission trips to Latvia, El Paso, TX, and Anapra, Mexico. She went on MOST (Mission Trip, Short Term) trips twice to Africa, three times to Panama, and once to Haiti, Macau, Hong Kong, China, and Baja, Mexico. Doris also worked locally with the Orphan Grain Train and the Thrift Store. It is a wonder and a blessing that Doris filled her life with compassion and service.

Doris is survived by two children: Lynn (Kathleen) Enquist of Princeton, NJ; and Linnea (Roger) Schwandt of Big Stone City, SD; grandchildren: Brian (Carolyn) Enquist, Kelly (Ryan) Hilbrands, Laura (Casey) Dorneman, and Louis Schwandt; she became “Granny” with the addition of seven great-grandchildren: Kennedy and Alex Hilbrands, Senna and Beck Enquist, Penelope Dorneman, and Leeah and Lowen Schwandt; sister, Esther Schaack of Watertown, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Clarence “Kelly” Enquist, in 1978; and brother, Harold Hajenga.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank or the Orphan Grain Train.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, February 24, 2020

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Emanuel Lutheran Church (Milbank)

701 S 1st St, Milbank, SD 57252

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Starts at 1:30 pm (Central time)

Tabor Lutheran Cemetery, Strandburg

16168 472nd Ave, Strandburg, SD 57265

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 36

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send a Card

Send a Card