Doris Eloise Brooking was born June 16, 1923, to Herbert and Isadore (Hayes) Brooking. She passed away May 4, 2021, age 97, at her home in White River. Doris grew up on the family farm nine miles northwest of Onida in Sully County, South Dakota. Her first three years of school were in Onida before she enrolled in the rural Hartford school district. She later attended and graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1941.

Speaking contests, Young Citizens League, and 4-H were activities that Doris enjoyed while growing up and she spent much time taking an active role in these. Following graduation, Doris went to school at South Dakota State College in Brookings, majoring in Home Economics.

During those college years, World War II was being fought and military troops were based on the SDSC campus. It was there she met James Vos of Oskaloosa, Iowa. On June 23, 1947, she married her “Army guy”. Their first home was in Ames, Iowa, where Jim attended school. Doris worked part of that time as Home Demonstration Agent in Boone County, west of Ames. On June 20, 1948, their daughter Rebecca was born and in July they returned to South Dakota where they farmed with Doris’s brother on the farm where she grew up in Onida. While there, Andrew was born August 10, 1950, and Phil followed on February 12, 1953.

In September 1956, Jim began his ministry in the Methodist Church. The Vos’s first appointment was in Hayes. Two daughters were born at this time. Martha joined the family October 16, 1957 and Phoebe was born February 11, 1960. In March 1961, they moved to Philip where Doris did some substitute teaching and worked for a year as a music teacher. In 1966, they moved to Conde. Doris taught Home Making classes in the high school for the five years they were there. In 1971, they transferred to Clear Lake, where Doris continued teaching in Gary.

White River became home in 1974. Again, Doris did substitute teaching and taught Home Making for two years. In 1979 Jim’s ministry took them to Selby. They lived there until 1985 when Jim retired from full-time service. While in Selby, Doris worked at the Good Samaritan Health Care Center.

Jim and Doris always enjoyed west-river country and chose to return to White River for their retirement. Doris said many times that she wanted to be within shouting distance of one kid, and Phoebe lived in White River. During these years, Doris was always involved in the community, as she had been wherever she lived. Organizations included the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, Order of the Eastern Star (79-year member), American Legion Auxiliary, Home Demonstration Clubs, Federated Women’s Club, Senior Citizens, and church choirs. For more than twenty years she joined residents at the White River Care Center for a weekly sing-a-long. Doris loved music and especially enjoyed playing the piano. She was the church pianist for many years and even played at church on her 95th birthday. Family was important to Doris and there was nothing she would not do for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Doris and Jim traveled many miles in support of family activities. Community involvement was also a high priority and they rarely missed local school activities, community events, or anything else that was happening in the neighborhood.

After a fall in 2013, Doris became a resident of assisted living in Pierre and Winner. In 2017 she returned to her home in White River where she was cared for by her children, primarily Martha. She remained in her home until her death. G’ma-Mom was polite, rarely complained, and was strong until the end.

Survivors include children Becky (Joe) Dougherty of Cheyenne, Andy (Jodi Hanson) Vos of Sioux Falls, Phil (Joyce) Vos of Sioux Falls, Martha (Byron) Janke of Sturgis, and Phoebe (Dan) Krogman of White River. Grandchildren Lance (Karen), Chevon, Siri (Allen), Anya, Jessica, Adam, Jason (Heather), Chelsey (Ryan), Kristan, Misty, Richelle, and Carson (Taylor); 16 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Helen Vos, five step-grandchildren, 10 step-great-grandchildren, and many other friends and family who were blessed to have known her.

Doris was preceded in death by husband Jim, her parents, two brothers, two sisters, grandchildren Darin Hart and Chrystelle Janke-Andrews, two great-grandchildren Brantley and Sawyer Talley, son-in-law Bill Logsdon, and one step-grandson.

A memorial has been established to the White River United Methodist Church, White River American Legion Auxiliary, and Mellette County Senior Citizens Center.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the community events center.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. CST on Monday, May 10, at the Community Events Center in White River.

Interment will follow at the White River Cemetery.

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