Doris Voss

Doris “Dode”Constance (Molstad) Voss who lived a gentle, loving, and thoughtful life always caring for others, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2022, at Weston Manor in Newcastle.

Dode experienced 100 years of everything life had to offer. She was born January 27, 1922, in Sioux City, Iowa, the fourth daughter of five children to parents Ella Marie (Ellefson) Molstad and George Melvin Molstad. In 1924 at the age of two years she survived a dangerous case of pneumonia.  She grew up in South Sioux City, Nebraska. She enjoyed her childhood playing with neighborhood kids walking to school and to the corner store for candy. She fondly remembered lighting real candles on their Christmas tree only once and only for a few minutes during each Christmas eve. She graduated from high school in 1939 and worked until her marriage to her high school sweetheart Warren G. Voss on December 21, 1940.

Their adventure began with a move to San Diego, California. She loved the ocean, beaches, and warm weather. Their lives quickly turned to the WWII effort with Warren being drafted and Dode employed in an aircraft factory building planes. She really was a “Rosie the Riveter.”

In 1944 they moved home to South Sioux City, Nebraska. They both worked in the Voss family business at Crystal Lake Resort on the Missouri River. Three children were born to the couple and in 1953 the family moved to Newcastle, Wyoming, where Warren’s father Dale was engaged in the oil business. Dode joined the Newcomers’ Club of Newcastle with many other young women new to the oil boom town. She made many lifelong friends. Through the years she was very active in the Episcopal Church, teaching Sunday School and organizing rummage sales, bake sales, and helping with many church projects.  She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years helping her two boys advance in scouting. She was a fifty-year member of the PEO Sisterhood. She belonged to two bridge clubs, a couples’ supper club and she was an original member of the Country Club’s Ladies Auxiliary. She supported the historical society and foundation. She was an active member of the Twentieth and Twenty First Century Clubs and she particularly enjoyed supporting the Weston County Library during book sales, Christmas decorating, and special projects. She volunteered her time and energy to local projects and causes to help others. Her kindness and consideration of others set an example for us all.  She was always reading and found interest in many subjects. Her home was full of books, magazines, and educational series covering what was up to date and what was historical. She played the piano for enjoyment and taught herself to play the organ. She enjoyed writing poetry. She was devoted to her family and was the calm peacemaker. She wanted everyone to be happy and did what she could to make it so.

Dode loved her garden and flowers and grew many interesting outdoor and indoor plants including a 70-year-old Christmas Cactus that still blooms right on schedule.

She was a gracious hostess, and her home was a gathering place. She entertained family and friends with summer cookouts, garden, and pool parties. In later years she loved to have visitors and sit outside on her veranda, sipping tea, talking, and watching the clouds and jet streams come and go in the Wyoming sky. She loved being alive and made an effort to “keep on the sunny side.” She enjoyed having a good time and she leaves a legacy of love and friendship.

Dode and Warren were married 66 years.  During later years they enjoyed being members of a travel club and joined many trips to warm climates. Warren preceded her in death in 2006.  She will be laid to rest beside him in the Newcastle Greenwood Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her parents George M. Molstad and Ella Marie (Ellefson)Molstad, sisters Viola(Charles) Tarlton, Grace(Forrest) James, and one sister who died in infancy, and her brother George(Elaine) Molstad.

She is survived by children Cary (Barb), Thomas (Susanne), and Connie Reimer (Lanny), grandchildren Mike(Jeannie) Voss and Kristofer(Heather) Voss; Logan Perino, Sherry (Mike) Ferguson,  Bill(Elaine) Hansen; Crystal (Geoff) Emry, Christopher (Dessa) Reimer, Carol (Paul) Hopkin, and Michael (Mellissa) Reimer, and her great grandchildren Regan Rose Voss; Rachel, Ryan, and Roman Perino; Nicholas Meinke; Jackson, Lance, Nina, and Natalie Emry, and Sophia, Warren and Asher Reimer, and Ava Reimer.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Meridian Mortuary in Newcastle. Memorial donations can be made to the Weston Manor Activities Fund for Doris Voss by sending them to Meridian Mortuary, 111 South Railroad, Newcastle, WY 82701.  Memorials and condolences may be sent to the family in care of Meridian Mortuary or expressions of sympathy may also be made online www.meridianmortuary.com.