Doranna Marie Robertson

Doranna Robertson passed away Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Villa Maria Nursing Home. She was 91 years old. A Mass of Christian burial will be held April 9, 2016 at 11:00 am at St Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo.

Doranna Marie Plante was born August 5, 1924 to Arthur and Mary Louise Plante in Olga, ND. Doranna was born with limited vision and at the age of 7 she attended The School for the Blind at Bathgate, ND. She had fond memories of the years she spent there and made many lifelong friends including her future husband. She felt very privileged to be able to be at the boarding school and after graduation in 1945, she attended the University of North Dakota where she majored in Social Work, French and Music. After college she moved to Bismarck to take a job as a secretary at the state capitol.

She married Lloyd Robertson on November 20, 1948 and continued working until the birth of their first child. Lloyd and Doranna had four children under the age of six and she stayed home to raise her family. When their youngest son was the only one at home she went back to work as the owner/manager of Dee’s Coffee Mug in the Federal Building in Bismarck. She loved working again and meeting all the people that frequented the coffee shop. In the late ‘80s she was given the opportunity to open Dee’s Coffee Mug in Fargo and she and Lloyd relocated. She enjoyed the challenge of moving to new locations, be it to a different home, different city or even a different country. Her family joked about her annual moves around Bismarck and Fargo to experience a series of apartments. She spent five years in Victoria, BC, Canada then moved back to Bismarck and in 2002 she returned to Fargo where she lived until her death.

Doranna had strong ties to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck including singing with the choir. She continued her involvement with the church when she joined St. Mary’s in Fargo. Music was a large part of her life and she was an accomplished vocalist.

She is survived by her children Llonna (Craig) Helenske, Fargo; Kent Robertson, Bismarck; Larry (Marlee) Robertson, Fargo; Mike (Shelly) Robertson, Bend, OR; 12 grandchildren, Ryan Robertson (Danielle Kotopoulis), Jay Robertson, Brittany Robertson (fiancée Justin Yantzer), Adam (Kayla) Helenske, Zak Helenske (Mya Kerner), Dannie (Kevin) Ewalt, Mikayla (Lance) Doeden, Nick (Casey) Robertson, Jack Robertson, Ava Robertson, Kadee (Chris) Larsen, Allie (Brian) Kolb and 10 great-grandchildren, Madaak, Amarie, Ireland, Elle, Calvin, Akela, Owin, Andraya, Skyla and Dylan; sisters Helen Koehmstedt, Corona, CA and June Berg, Burnsville, MN; sisters-in-law, Ardy Robertson, Roundup, MT and Annie Plante, Bismarck and many nieces and nephews.

Doranna was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers Romeo and Harvey and sisters Mary Helen, Alma, Irene and Jane.

The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria Nursing Home, especially Sandy Bommersbach and Hospice of the Red River Valley for the care she received. Memorials preferred to the ND Association of the Blind.

Her vision problem never stopped her from doing what she wanted to do. She had many interests and friends and was always eager to learn something new. As granddaughter Ava, said “Now Grandma can see all the colors!”