Doris Marie (Tuff) Lofthus

Doris Marie (Tuff) Lofthus was born on November 26, 1929 at the home of her parents, William Hamilton Tuff and Eileen (Carl) Tuff, on their farm roughly 9 miles northwest of Rugby, ND. William was active in North Dakota politics and Eileen’s 27-year diary is in the North Dakota archives. Doris was one of 12 siblings and was the last sibling to pass away.

After graduating high school, Doris worked as a telephone operator for one of the Baby Bells. She also pursued training toward becoming a registered nurse, during which time she lived in Seattle, WA. She met her husband, Irvin Lofthus of Red Lodge, MT where she worked as a nurse in the Red Lodge hospital. They married in 1957 and lived on Irvin’s family owned sheep and cattle ranch 15 miles east of Red Lodge. They suffered a heavy blow when they lost their 2-year old daughter Martha to a tragic farm accident.

In 1971, after selling the farm, they moved to Brainerd, MN where they both worked in a nursing home, Doris as an RN and Irvin as a facility maintenance man. They moved back to Joliet, MT in 1973 to care for Irvin’s newly widowed mother. Doris went back to work for the telephone company and worked many more years there until her retirement.

They were quite active in the Wesleyan Church in Joliet. Doris was faithfully praying and supporting many missionary and political watchdog organizations.

In 2008, they moved again to be near their son Peter in Des Moines, IA as Irvin was developing dementia. After Irvin passed away in 2011, Doris delighted in spending time with grandsons Dante and Gabriel. She was always happy to spend afternoons reading Gabriel's favorite books to him and watching him play. Doris loved to sit on the couch and read through food recipe magazines. She had a beautiful soprano voice and it was such a treat to hear her sing. One of her favorite activities as she became house bound was singing church hymns with her caregivers from Avalon, a hospice organization. Peter can still hear her sing “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” and treasures those precious memories.

Early in 2020, Doris had to give up living independently and moved home with Peter’s family. She endured much physical pain in her later years but always maintained her hope and faith in God who took her home on November 18, 2020.

She is survived by her children, Peter (Karmela) Lofthus and Ruth (Ty) Smith; 4 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. She is loved and missed.

Doris will be buried at St. Olaf Country Church near Absarokee, MT.

“Oh, wondrous thought, for me He careth, and He at last will come for me.”

Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Brethren International Mission at www.lbim.org or to a favorite charity.

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