Doris Marie Lee

Doris Marie Lee, 80, of Belleville, Illinois, born September 17, 1930 in Denby, South Dakota in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, Illinois with her loving and devoted granddaughter by her side.

Doris was a Tribal member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe. Doris worked for over 40 years in the service industry retiring from Panorama Lanes. Doris was a member of St. Peter’s Cathedral and a member of Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 534.

Doris was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Jean Tofpi, who passed away on June 5, 1981; parents, Vincent and Myrtle nee Allman, Lee; brother, Reginald “Sonny Boy” Lee; brother in law, Jim Engleman; nephew, Jimmy Engleman; dear friends, Benjamin Clyde McCauley and Dave Wandling.

Surviving are her granddaughter, Rainy Day Tofpi – Barger (Michael P. Wirth) of Belleville, Illinois; great grandchildren, Jack Barger, Clyde Barger, Henry Barger and Linda Lane Wirth; grand son in law Timothy C. Barger; sister Phyllis Engleman of Exeter, Missouri and Loretta Lozano (Dr. Jose Lozano) of Monterey, Mexico; nieces and nephews, June Skinner (Steve), Myrna Eisenbraun, Mike Engleman (Patti), Tom Engleman (Cheryl), Rick Engleman, Master Sergeant Tony Rahm and Bobbi Kitchens. Also, survived by many relatives, family and friends.

Please remember Doris by her candid sense of humor, hard work ethic and no nonsense attitude. She took life in stride, had some profound losses and tried hard not to show the affects. Memorials in Doris’s honor may be made to the Running Strong for American Indian Youth, Suite #200, Alexandria, VA 22303-1499, Online condolence may be expressed to the family at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the funeral home, Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois. Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois