Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271957
Title: Colleen E. Dockter
Date: 10/24/1959-11/12/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 10/24/1959
Summary: Colleen Dockter, 66, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, ND, surrounded by her daughters. Her funeral service was held November 18, 2025, at Viking Lutheran Church, Maddock, ND. Burial was at Viking Cemetery, Maddock, ND. Colleen Estelle Dockter was born on October 24, 1959, to Harley and Doris (Applegate) Vinnard in New Rockford, ND. She graduated from Maddock High School in 1977. Colleen was married to David Abrahamson in 1975 and to this union welcomed two daughters, Kristy Renae and Julie Ann. Finding the love of her life, she married Terry Dockter at the Chapel of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in March 2008. Colleen worked at Red Owl Grocery Store, in the kitchen at the Maddock Public School, and the Maddock Memorial Home. Most important to her was her nursing as she found fulfillment in building relationships and making a tangible difference in long-term residents’ lives. Her passion continued as she received her LPN degree from Northwest Technical College in 1998. This would become her lifelong calling as she worked 18 years at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd. Colleen suffered from a stroke in 2012. The resulting physical and communication impairments, and subsequent medical struggles, forced her to retire at the young age of 52. She was known for her quick wit and lively spirit and was never afraid to speak her mind. She possessed a delightful sense of humor and a certain spunk that she will be remembered for. Colleen found joy in tending to her family and friendships. Most of all, she treasured time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson, Sawyer, who knew her as “granny red.” She loved being on the ball field, whether it was watching her grandkids play or simply for them to get her a polish sausage. When she could no longer travel well, she would make sure to catch each football, basketball or volleyball game on the TV. She loved watching westerns, game shows, and the Minnesota Vikings. Colleen is survived by her husband, Terry Dockter; her daughters, Kristy (Tony) O’Connor of New Rockford, ND, and Julie (Cody) Ellingson, Bismarck, ND; grandchildren, McKenzie (Tyler) Seaburg, Kaden Jensen, Kaiya (Preston) O’Connor, Kolton O’Connor, MaKayla (Seth) Ellingson, Preston Ellingson; great-grandson, Sawyer Benjamin; sister, Donna (Dennis) Johnson; brothers-in-law, James (Karla Dockter) and Joe Seiler, both of New Rockford, ND; sister-in-law, Charlene Gilliss, Waubun, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harley and Doris Vinnard; mother-in-law, Eileen Dockter; brother-in-law, Kyle Dockter and sister-in-law, Kimberly Seiler.
Red ID: FND_I_79443 Image ID: 546529 Image Notes: FND001 271957

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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