Doris Schaffer

Dates

Obituary

Doris Schaffer, 97, of Mitchell, SD, died on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, October 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at American Legion Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

A livestream of Doris’ Funeral Mass can be viewed at: https://www.mitchellcatholic.org/whats-new/livestream

Doris Mae Schaffer was born January 28, 1927, to Joseph and Elizabeth (Feterl) Stiefvater in Salem, SD. She grew up on a farm north of Salem with two brothers and two sisters. She attended St. Mary’s School in Salem through high school, graduating in 1945.

Doris worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital for two years before attending Presentation School of Nursing. She graduated in 1950, and then worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. B.R. Skogmo, Avera Brady, and Mitchell Surgeons.

On October 30, 1950, Doris married James P. Schaffer at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem. Jim and Doris had four sons and two daughters.

Doris lived a faith-based life serving in the Holy Spirit Altar Society and was chosen Catholic Daughter of the Year in 2011. She was in several card groups playing bridge, pinochle, and canasta. She also volunteered at Dakota Discovery Museum, Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, Hospitality House, and the Corn Palace.

She also loved to garden, both vegetables and flowers. She was famous (at least in our neighborhood) for her strawberry-rhubarb jam, homemade bread, scotcheroos (without the butterscotch), peanut butter balls, and kaloushkis. She was also known to enjoy a good plate of ribs. She loved to craft with neighbors, friends, and family, and she rarely missed a Twins game.

Doris is survived by her two daughters, Rene DeJong and Connie (Larry) Mutchler of Mitchell, SD; daughter-in-law Brenda Schaffer (Joe) of Sturgis, SD; sons, William (Connie) Schaffer of Omaha, NE; and Eric (Gwen) Schaffer of Osceola, WI; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother, Harold Stiefvater of Salem, SD; and sister-in-law, Liz Stiefvater of Salem, SD.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James in 2016; sons, Joseph in 2017 and Patrick in 2023; brother, John Stiefvater; sisters, Eileen Riddle and Luella Weber; three nephews, two nieces, many aunts and uncles, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws.

Memorials can be directed to the Mitchell Catholic Foundation; 1401 W Cedar Ave, Mithcell, SD 57301.

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