Doris Sullivan

Doris Antoinette (Diederich) Sullivan, 94, gained her angel wings on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at Beehive Homes in Elk River, surrounded by the love of her family. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022, from 5 – 8 pm and again on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, from 10 – 11am followed immediately by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Both at St Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff. Interment will be at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Cemetery, DeGraff. Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Doris was born September 17, 1928, to Anton and Anna (Rausch) Diederich in Belgrade, MN, the youngest of nine children. She was united in marriage to Joseph Sullivan on December 1, 1951, at St Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff. They shared 43 years of marriage, and nine children.

Doris and Joe made their home in rural DeGraff, raising their nine children on the family farm. She was a master quilter, hand-sewing a quilt for each of the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Her garden was a masterpiece full of vegetables and flowers, and if you ever got to enjoy some of her frozen sweetcorn you definitely took a second helping.

In addition to sewing and gardening, she also enjoyed golfing, bowling, traveling, having tea parties with the grandkids, and keeping up the farm work. Doris’s faith was very important to her and volunteered countless hours at church including the Altar and Rosary Society, Wednesday Mission Ladies gatherings, and counting money after Sunday church.

Mother Sullivan, as she was affectionately known to so many, was a bright light wherever she went. If you were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of her beautiful smile, it surely made you smile back. The impact she left on everyone she met was truly amazing.

Doris is survived by her nine children: Tim (Janet) Sullivan of DeGraff, Tony (Somkane) Sullivan of Snohomish, WA, Mary (Dave) Kavanagh of Loveland, CO, Kaye (Rob Murphy) Sullivan of Juneau, AK, Terry (Jennifer) Sullivan of Benson, Nancy (Todd) Saterbak of Clear Lake, Tom (Sherry) Sullivan of Prior Lake, David (Traci Jo) Sullivan of Baudette, Jennifer (Mike) Wagner of Elk River; 13 grandchildren: Jill (Ryan) Gunderson, Quinn (Brandon) Nygaard; Alex (Crystal) Beckman, Nathan Sullivan; Dave (Shelby) Saterbak, Jake and Abby Saterbak; Reed, Kate and Christian Sullivan; Lauren, Joey and Charlie Wagner; eight great grandchildren: Ali and Molly Gunderson; Presley, Max and Tess Nygaard; CJ and Gavin Beckman; and Blaire Saterbak; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joe; infant son, Joseph; grandson, Patrick; brothers: Art, Leander, Cletus, John; and sisters: Coletta, Margaret, Genevieve, and Evelyn.