Doris Risdall went to her heavenly home at the age of 88 on May 16, 2012. She spent her final days with her daughter and son-in-law in the Banner, Wyoming community.

Doris Leone McCabe Robbins Risdall was born May 10, 1924 to Ethel and Carl McCabe at Cooper, South Dakota in the Mrs. Lewis Maternity Home.
Her early childhood was spent on sheep ranches in South Dakota with her mother, father and sister, Peggy. During this time her parents ran sheep on the Sioux Standing Rock Indian Reservation in Bullhead, South Dakota. She had fond memories of living in a sheep wagon on the prairie and attending school with the Sioux children. This was the foundation of her life-long love for Native American culture. She graduated from high school in Faith, South Dakota. After receiving her teaching certificate from Spearfish Teacher’s College, she taught in a one room country school in Western South Dakota.

Doris married Theodore Jarvis Risdall May 9, 1944 while he was serving active duty in the Army/Air Corp. After he was discharged, they purchased a ranch in the Marcus Community near Faith South Dakota. Partnering with Jarvis in the ranching business led them from South Dakota to several locations throughout Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon. In 1963 they established their home in Sheridan, Wyoming. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and many organizations in the Sheridan area.
Her life experiences helped form a foundation of corporate leadership. Doris began as a salesperson for a fraternal insurance company, progressed to state manager and then elevated to the position of northwest and mountain states regional manager. At the peak of her career, she earned a position on the Board of Directors, where she served until her retirement. Those who worked with her spoke of her organization and innate ability to provide solid leadership and help guide the organization. Those who worked for her expressed caring and admiration of her leadership as well as the personal interest she took in them.
As much as she loved her professional life, her first love was always for her family. She worked hard for her family, whether it was weeding a huge garden, canning the harvest of her garden, baking pies and bread, cooking endless meals for family and those who would congregate in her home, tirelessly sewing or cleaning until the early hours of the morning. In her limited spare time, she loved quilting and embroidering. These are some of the things that are special memories for her daughters and all loved ones.
Doris loved people and made a friend wherever she went, whether it is a person seated next to her on the airplane, a hairdresser, the clerk in the fabric store, a checker in the grocery store, or a lady buying bum lambs. Above all else she valued her family and friends.

Mrs. Risdall is survived by daughters, Joyce (Jon) Warnke of Torrington WY, Myrna (Mike) Corley of Clatskanie OR, Carmel (Dale) Hansen of Banner WY, Rochelle (Lyle) Livingston of Chico CA, and Thea (Dana) Murdock of Mont Vernon NH; 9 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; her sister, Peggy (Jim) Reed of Sturgis SD; sister-in-law, Jeanne Risdall of Rapid City SD and many nieces and nephews.

Doris is preceded in death by her husband Jarvis “Shorty” Risdall; infant daughter, Fonda Beth; her father, mother, adoptive father and twin infant brothers.

Funeral services are at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Phil Wold officiating. Interment will be in Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD on Friday, May 25, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials may benefit the American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, 137 N. Brooks St., Sheridan or Trinity Lutheran Church.

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