Doris Ulrich

Mass of Christian Burial for Doris Ulrich, age 84, of rural Faith, SD, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith, SD.  Fr. Janusz Korban will officiate with burial to follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery west of Faith.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a rosary/vigil service at 7:30 p.m. all on Monday, December 20, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith.

Doris Ulrich was called by Jesus while sleeping peacefully in her home with family by her side in the evening of December 11, 2021. She will be celebrating Christmas with her husband, Daniel, and other Heavenly family members this year.

Doris Clydene Woodard was born in Santanta, Kansas March 12, 1937. The Woodard family moved several times to live where there were jobs in the potato and onion fields or in orchards. Doris and her siblings bagged many a potato or onion or picked apples and cherries. Doris always spoke of a happy childhood. One of her fondest memories was that she and her sister Jane would pull up rhubarb and pretend they were carrying ladies' umbrellas.

In March of 1948, the Woodard family moved to South Dakota and lived on the Frank Gottschalk place East of Faith. The first people her parents met were George Ulrich and Frank Gottschalk. Doris attended school in Faith. One day, Doris was invited to see a movie at the Wapazo Theater with Daniel Ulrich. They, of course, needed to be chaperoned in those days, so both her older sisters, Betty and Jane, and their beaus were included. In 1955, Doris, her parents, and brother moved to Canon City, Colorado where her dad farmed and mom worked as a nurse in the hospital. Doris worked as a candystriper in that hospital for the few years until she graduated from high school in 1956. She always said she learned so much from the nuns who ran the hospital. Daniel went to Colorado to visit and gave Doris a ring.

Doris returned to Faith and was confirmed in the Catholic Church. Daniel and Doris were married August 1, 1956. Daniel brought his young bride to live on his little ranch northeast of Faith on South Flintrock Creek. They welcomed three children to their loving home--Colleen (1957), Leonard (1959), and Robert (1962). Never was a chicken seen on the ranch in all those years. Doris had been chased by a rooster that grabbed her dress when she was very small and she never forgave that species for the rest of her life.

Doris helped Daniel on the ranch. She made many a meal for sheep shearers, branding crews, and baked for school and church functions. Doris's spare time was filled with sewing and reading which she enjoyed until she no longer could see. Her children, friends, and family were blessed with western shirts, patched Levis, dresses, costumes, clothes that needed hems, and any request to help sew for the church or school or Stock Show. She was a very detailed and accurate seamstress and enjoyed making quilts in later years. She taught Colleen to sew and gave her several of her tips and "secrets."

Doris and her two sisters were talented yodelers and could harmonize very well. There was always some yodeling going on at family gatherings. Unfortunately, none of her children inherited that knack. Doris was a member of St. Josephs Alter Society for many years. Once the kids were grown, she began working as a home aide for DSS for a few years and as a housekeeper for the Prairie Vista Inn. Doris's whole life was her beloved husband, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In the last couple of years, both she and Daniel endured health issues, but they continued to take care of each other. Their goal was to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary this year, and they made it!

Survivors are her children and their families--Colleen, Leonard (Louise), Robert (Amy), 9 grandchildren--Eric (Amber)Gustafson, Alex (Candace) Gustafson, Abigail (Lee) Smart, Laura (Kerry) Holmes, Joseph, Jacob (McKenzie-fiance), James, Ann, April Ulrich, and 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel, her parents Clyde and Edith Woodard, father-and mother-in-law, George and Laura Ulrich, all of her siblings and their spouses--Robert (Nita) Rogers, Betty (John) Hostetter, Jane (Orville) Hauser, and Virgil Woodard, all of Daniel's siblings, and grand-daughter Hillary Joy Gustafson.