Doris E. Fischer, 91, of Bowman, ND, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Bowman. Fr. David Morman will officiate with burial to follow in the Tuttle Cemetery, rural Rhame, ND. There will be a Rosary and Vigil Service on Tuesday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Catholic Church.

Doris Ellen (Jones) Fischer was born December 31, 1924 to Bernice (Thompson) and Elzie J. Jones. It was a snowy day and cars were not able to drive, so Willard Willis took Bernice to Marmarth, ND with his team of horses and sled. On February 4, 1927, a son (Lowell Jones) was welcomed to this family. Doris attended Crawford School, which was about 3 miles from where they lived, north of Rhame. She and her brother Lowell rode a horse every day to and from, and from the stories we have heard, Lowell would ride fast just to hear her squeal! She attended Rhame High School. She stayed in town during the week, working for Jessie Henke at the Buttes Hotel, until she graduated in 1942. In December of 1942 she enrolled in Northern State College and Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, SD. She graduated in 1945, spending the last year in the Army Hospital at Springfield, Missouri. She joined the Army Nurse Corps during WWII. After basic training was completed, she was assigned her station at O'Rielly Plastic Surgery Center. In January 1946 she returned home to Rhame, ND.
She married the love of her life, Richard Fischer, on January 30, 1946 at St. Mel's Catholic Church in Rhame. Two weeks later they moved to Santa Cruz, California with $600.00 in their pocket and a Studebaker car. She worked in a doctor's office for some time. They came back to North Dakota in 1948 and purchased their ranch, "Rocky Ridge Ranch," where they lived for over 50 years.
She was one of the first nurses to work at the Bowman hospital. She then left that job and became Director of Nursing for Southwest Long Term Healthcare, a position she would hold for 19 years. She truly loved what she did and it showed with all the loving care she gave to the residents and staff of the nursing home. She and Richard for many years would have all the residents that were able to go, come to the ranch once a year for the the annual Apple Pie Day. For days before the event, they would pick the apples off their trees and peel, peel, peel – finally baking for days so all could enjoy the fruits of their labor. It was an event that was anticipated with great excitement for all.
After her retirement, Doris and Richard spent the later years of their lives traveling the world. They would spend their winters in Arizona, Florida and finally making a winter home in Texas. When Richard's health took a turn for the worse, they returned to the Ranch. Doris lovingly cared for and nursed her husband until he passed.
She continued to live on the ranch, which now was run by son (James) and Denise Fischer and their three boys. She so enjoyed those boys, even though they were sometimes under her feet and into everything.
When she was no longer able to live at the ranch, she moved to Pleasant Manor in Bowman, ND. She lived there for about four years. Her final move was to Southwest Healthcare Long Term Care. She would not have wanted to be anywhere else during her final years. She would always get a kick out of telling us that the staff took great care of her because she trained most of them when they were her "Candy Stripers." She truly loved and appreciated each and every one of you!
Doris and Richard were blessed with four children: Alice (Thad Magyar), Cynthia (Steve Vitter), James (Denise) Fischer, and Steven Fischer. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Michele Holz, Will (Devon) Holz, Peyton Magyar, (Maggie) Holz; Lora (Mac Lara) and Victoria Lara; Sheri (Jeff Mora), Emily and Ethan Mora; Gregory Vitter, sons Noah and Jack Vitter; Daniel Vitter (Glenda Carter), Samantha Read and Cody Stephens; Chris (Kirsten) Fischer; and Jason (Kayla) Fischer. She carried a special place in her heart for her Godchildren, nieces and nephews.
Doris is survived by her daughters: Alice (Thad) Magyar and Cynthia (Stephen) Vitter; son: Steven Fischer; and daughter-in-law: Denise Fischer. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers (one who died as an infant); her husband (Richard Fischer); her son (James Fischer); and her grandson (Tyler Fischer).