Doris Elaine Long, 78

Doris Elaine Long, age 78, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at Brendon House in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on April 26, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Joseph and Susan (Mliner) Loss.

She was known as "Doree" by her friends and family and was born into her family being number eight, joining seven brothers and sisters. In July of 1935 her family moved to Brainerd, Minnesota, where her Czechoslovakian immigrant parents bought a farm that Doree lived on until she was 19 years old. In 1948 she moved to Los Angeles, California to be with her sister Susan where she took a job at Bank of America as a teller. In 1951 Doree moved back to Minnesota and made a visit to see her brother Bob in Indiana where he was stationed in the army. It was at this time Doree met Phil Anderson, her future husband. Upon fulfilling his duty with the Army, Phil returned to his hometown of Seattle. After several visits Doree eventually moved to Washington and married Phil in 1952. In 1956 her son Jeff was born and three years later her daughter Susan followed. Divorced after only eight years of marriage, Doree as she liked to be called as she had never liked the name Doris, raised her two children as a single parent working at the Boeing Company as a systems analyst.

Doree was an avid and accomplished ballroom dancer. On the weekends she would spend one of the nights dancing for hours on end. It was on one of these evenings in 1971 that Doree met Bruce Long, her second husband. Bruce and Doree were married in 1972. During this time Doree took up many hobbies one of her favorites was gardening. Doree always had the most beautiful flowers and yard in the neighborhood. On July 6, 1981 Nicolas, Doree's only grandchild was born to her son Jeff. Nick was the love of her life and she was so proud of him.

In 1989 Doree retired from Boeing and enjoyed spending her free time on her hobbies and with her kids and grandchild. Doree loved to cook and bake.

Doree moved to Montana in October of 2005 when her children convinced her to move to Bigfork. Doree's short time in Montana was not nearly long enough but one thing that was for sure was how much she loved the summers but like most of us, wished the winters were shorter. Even though Doree was only here a short time her outgoing nature and ability to relate to people allowed her to make many new friends. Doree had a spirit and heart much greater in size than could ever be contained by her petite physical body. She always put other people's needs ahead of her own. She loved her family and friends with a passion. Doree will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends whose lives she touched with her grace and love.

Doree is survived by son, Jeff Anderson of Bigfork, MT; daughter, Susan Anderson of Ferndale, MT and grandson, Nick Dionigi-Anderson of Auburn, WA.; and her brother, Robert Loss of Brainerd, MN.

Funeral Services for Doree were held on Monday, April 6, at 1 p.m. in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel in Kalispell with Pastor Joe Strandjord officiating. Burial will follow at the Bigfork Community Cemetery in Bigfork, Montana.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Doree's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Doree's guest book.