Doris Joice (Olson) Pettis was born on January 29th, 1936 to Jennie (Rautio) and Robert Olson at the family farm in rural Sturgeon Lake, MN. The winter of 1936 was remembered as the coldest and snowiest in Minnesota history. Doris and her fraternal twin brother, Donald Edwin were delivered by a neighbor/mid-wife weighing only 4 pounds. To keep the babies warm, Jennie placed the babies in a basket and put them on the oven door of their wooden cook stove.

Doris attended rural school in Sturgeon Lake, then Willow River school until age 17. After leaving school, she decided to move to the Minneapolis/St Paul area with a friend and worked various jobs, including an elevator operator. On the weekends, the girls would drive back up north to visit friends and family. It was at this time that she met Sgt. Warren Lewis. It was love at first sight. They were married within a year on December 11th, 1954.

Together they settled in Minneapolis and built their first home. Warren worked as a brick layer and Doris was a full-time homemaker. They had three children, Gwen, Wade, and Dean Lewis. After 10 years, they decided to move up north and bought a 100 acre farm in rural Finlayson. Living on a farm was very hard on everyone.

Following her divorce in 1973, Doris moved to Morton, MN to be near her eldest brother, Elwood. She held several jobs including work at an insurance agency. She remarried and had many lasting friendships. In 2005, Doris decided to move to Pine City, MN to be closer to her family.

Doris enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved going out with “the girls” for coffee, was an avid reader, and had a beautiful singing voice. She loved decorating her home, was an excellent cook, and had a remarkable artistic talent. Above all, Doris will be remembered for her loving personality, sense of humor, and gift for telling unforgettable stories that brought joy and laughter to everyone around.

On May 26th, 2026, Doris passed away at the Northern Pines assisted living in Pine City. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Jennie Olson; twin brother, Donald, brothers Elwood, Ted (Dee); James and Dale; and sisters, Lorraine (Merle) Wirtanen, and Janet (Billy Joe) Simmons.

Doris is survived by brother, Larry Olson; children, Gwen (Mike) Christensen; Wade (Ginnie) Lewis; Dean (Mary) Lewis. Grandchildren: Jessica (Mike) Starr, Sarah (Joe) Norring, Parker Soderbeck, Jordan (Cassie) Lewis, Kelly Lewis, Erica Beyer, Aaron and Emily Perslin Brandon, Tristan, Collin and Elizabeth Lewis. Great-grandchildren: Chloe and Harper Starr, Harrison, Hudson, Ariel Norring; and Ayden Lewis, and many other nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Vicki VanderVegt will officiate at the funeral service for Doris: 11 AM; Friday, June 5th at Swanson Funeral Chapel with one hour of visitation at the chapel prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel

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