Doris M. Packer Kegel, 91, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt died peacefully in her son’s home in Junction City, Ore., on March 3, 2008.
Doris, the second child of Erwin and Martha Packer, was born in Hingham and grew up on a farm north of Inverness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Kegel, her parents, Erwin and Martha Packer, two sisters, Marie Lincoln and Cora Mae (Brownie) Theobald, her only brother, Bruce Packer, and her beloved son-in-law, Mike Voigt. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Duncan, of Joplin; her children, Sibyl (J.D.) Hughes of Whitefish, Jerry (Peggie) Kegel of Junction City, Ore., Barbara (Jim) Delsigne of Clancy, Clint (Martha) Kegel of Topeka, Kan., and Helen Voigt of Everett, Wash. She also leaves 15 grandchildren and 19 greatgrandchildren, as well as Packer, Suckow and Kegel family members and innumerable friends and relatives she cared for and loved throughout her life. Doris attended country schools in their rural community, roomed and/or boarded in Rudyard and Havre during her high school and college years, got a life certificate in elementary education at Northern Montana College in Havre and began teaching when she was just 19 years old. She and Charlie Kegel married in Glasgow on Oct. 19, 1940 after a lengthy courtship. Charlie was a Great Northern employee and they lived in Nashua, Glasgow and Chinook before settling in Havre, where they raised their family of five and she resided until shortly before her death. A biographical sketch of Doris’ life comes nowhere close to measuring the enormous presence she had in the lives of her family, nor the impact she had on the lives of those with whom she shared her love and friendship. She gave generously, graciously, sincerely and devotedly to her community and church and without exception or reservation to her family and friends. She was a wise and able mentor to all who sought her counsel. Her central focus in life was as a caretaker who was truly altruistic in giving of her time, attentions, and energies. Doris had a special place in her heart for all children, but most especially her own children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Each one became intimately interwoven in the fabric of Doris’ life and family. Doris was a deeply spiritual woman whom was steadfastly and immutably committed to her faith and was intensely active in the life of her church. Simply put, no matter what else was going on in her life, Doris could be counted on to set aside her own priorities to be present for and to serve others, but, first and foremost, her family. Memorials may be given to the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, 410 Fifth Avenue, Havre, Montana 59501 or Hospice Services in your home community or at Hospice Services, Cascade Health Solutions, 2650 Suzanne Way, Suite 200, Eugene, Oregon 97408. A “Celebration of Life” service is pending. Her services will be held at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church in Havre when a date has been set.
