Doris Jane Krogstad

Doris Jane (Van Winkle) Krogstad was born to Martin and Mabel (Gjelsness) Van Winkle on Sept. 6, 1923.  Her father worked for the BIA, so she and her five siblings grew up primarily at Fort Thompson in central South Dakota. They moved to Cass Lake, MN, in 1940 where her father later retired.

Doris became a student at Bemidji State Teachers College (now BSU) where she majored in Music and English and was the only person to have the ability of “perfect pitch” to date at the school.

She taught at Cass Lake High School during World War II and later at Watertown, MN. After WW2, she resumed her acquaintance with a returning veteran, Blanchard Krogstad. They were married in Cass Lake in December 1946.

Doris worked at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) while her husband pursued graduate studies in Biology. After Blanchard received his PhD, he accepted a professorship at St. Olaf College in 1951.  That same summer, daughter, Jineen, was born, followed by Rolf in 1953.

The family moved to Duluth in 1954 when Blanchard accepted a professorship at the University Minnesota-Duluth. In 1958, Doris gave birth to Bruce. While in Duluth Doris taught piano for 28 years, did volunteer work at First Lutheran Church, and was very active in the Duluth Music Teachers Association.

In 1984 Doris and Blanchard moved to the old homestead farm near Winger, MM, the boyhood home of Blanchard. There, Doris was busy with volunteering, especially in the U of M Master Gardener program and at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger. Doris moved to the First Card Nursing Home in Fosston in February of 2020.

Doris is survived by her husband, Blanchard, of Fosston, MN; children, Jineen (Daniel) Heiman of Libertyville, IL, Rolf (Martha) Krogstad of Bloomington, MN, the Rev. Bruce (Kathy) Krogstad of Moorhead, MN; grandchildren, Jens (Mary) Krogstad of Cheverly, MD, Lars Krogstad of Minneapolis, MN; great granddaughter, Elodie of Cheverly, MD; and numerous other relatives across the country.

Memorial services for Doris are still pending. Please check back often for updates.