Doris Lorraine Sigurdson

Doris Lorraine (Bartness) Sigurdson, 97, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona, where she had recently moved to live closer to her daughters.

Born in Bath, Doris was the fifth of nine children born to Martin and Minnie (Johnson) Bartness. She grew up on a farm near Hartland. After graduating from Freeborn High School, Doris went to work at Munsingwear in Albert Lea. After Howard returned from the army, they were married and moved to Albert Lea.

When her children were older, she did custom-sewing and tailoring for several years. Later Doris worked at Miami Margarine/Holsum Foods. She was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church.

Doris was an industrious person and talented seamstress who enjoyed knitting, crocheting, doing hardanger, and even mastered upholstering. In retirement, she loved making beautiful quilts which she shared with her family. If she decided to learn something new, that’s what she did. In her late 70s, she purchased her first computer to play games and was soon keeping in touch with friends and family via email, Facebook and Instagram.

Doris enjoyed going on trips to Arizona, Virginia, and Florida with her family, and was always ready to play a card game of Hand and Foot. Those who knew her best saw a selfless, generous woman who loved her family and was always interested in their lives.

Doris and Howard celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in April and were featured in the Albert Lea Tribune. Their quiet devotion to each other was inspiring to all who knew them.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, with a visitation beginning at 9:45 AM. Interment was at Central Freeborn Lutheran Cemetery.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Craig (Wendy) Sigurdson, Julie (Mike) Dandrea, Diane (Mike Tyo) Sigurdson; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Merle Bartness; and a sister, Jean Holland. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; her parents; brothers, Vernon, Carrol, Mervin, Donald, Delano; sister, Elaine Warke; and several extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Central Freeborn Lutheran Cemetery Fund 74427 245th St., Albert Lea, MN 56007