Doris N. Eklund

Doris N. Eklund age 81 passed away peacefully after a short battle from the complications of treatment for lung cancer on Friday March 23,2007. She was in the loving thoughts and care of her family at Deaconess Hospital, where she had spent many years of her career as a nurse.

Doris was born May 30th, 1925 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Her father, Carl, a hard working Scandinavian immigrant farmer and her mother, Bertha, a grade school teacher gave her the foundation to become the loving wife, mother, and grandmother, the compassionate nurse, the successful business woman, the unconditional friend, and the generous person that she was.

It was always Doris's dream to become a nurse. And in spite of some resistance from her parents she entered the University of Minnesota in 1943 and graduated three years later as a registered nurse. She was a member of the first group of women to join the Cadet Nurse Corps. She later went on to work at both St Vincent's and Deaconess hospitals as a surgical "circulating" nurse and a "scrub" nurse specializing in cardiovascular surgery.

In 1952 Doris met her late husband of fifty years, William (Bill) Eklund, and they married in Arcadia, CA in 1953. They lived in Billings for the next twenty years while raising their three children. Doris put her nursing career on hold until the children were old enough that she could return in 1964. In 1973 Doris and Bill expanded their Budget Rent-A-Car of Mountain States franchise to include Reno, Nevada and moved to Reno. Doris again gave up her nursing career to become a very successful business owner and entrepreneur. While she enjoyed the excitement of living in Reno and the challenge of being involved in the day to day operations of the family run business her heart kept pulling her back to Billings. After selling their business in Reno in 1983, Doris and Bill returned to Billings in 1994 to be closer to family and friends.

Doris was an avid golfer and was a member of many country clubs over the years including Yellowstone, Hilands, Hidden Valley, Indian Wells, and PGA West. She was actively involved in all of the women's golf groups and was the chairwoman of the Indian Wells Country Club Woman's Golf Association from 1991-1993 and 2000-2002. Doris place 4d1 in the Nabisco Dinah Shore Pro-Am in 1993 and she also served as a head score keeper for the Bob Hope Classic in Indian Wells, CA for several years. She loved to play bridge and played at a master's level even up until the time of her death. She also was an excellent backgammon and gin rummy player that took particular delight in "whipping" her husband and the family members she played.

Doris is survived by her three children and four grandchildren; Deborah Ann Rokita (Rusty), William A Eklund Jr. (Chris), child Blake, and John Randolph (Randy) Eklund (Rae Ann),

children Daniel, Robert, and Andrea. She was an incredible morn, grandmother and mother-in-law and will be sorely missed by all. We love you Mom.

A reception will be held for all of Doris's family friends at the Hilands County Club on Saturday March 31^st from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the American Cancer Society or your local Hospice.