Doris Ivarson Laursen Kuhn, 97, went to be with her maker February 26, 2025, while a resident of Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, NE.
Doris was born September 18, 1927, on a farm north of Lisco, NE. Her parents were Gordon M. and Iola V. (Berger) Ivarson. The family moved to Gordon, NE in 1934. Doris graduated from Gordon High School in 1944. She attended Chadron State College for a short time before moving to Alliance in 1945 where she was employed at the Alliance Air Base until it was deactivated. She was then employed at the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership as that business’s accountant and office manager for 33-years. During this time Doris was recognized over many years by the General Motors Dealers Association Denver Zone as being among that trade group’s top 10 accountants in its four-state area. Later in life, she obtained her real estate broker’s license and was active with Town & Country Realty for 11 years prior to her retirement.
Doris was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Alliance for much of her life, having transferred there from the Gordon Church in 1946. During those years she was a Sunday School teacher, served as an Elder, Trustee, CT Board member, on the Memorial Committee, and sang in the church choir. Her skills as an accountant were extensively utilized.
Doris was a powerhouse for the Alliance community during her lifetime. Again, her accounting skills were much appreciated when she first sat on the Board organized for the formation of the Carnegie Arts Center, which had its grand opening in April of 1993. She set up its accounting system, served on the CAC Board, was its treasurer, was an enthusiastic Diplomat, and a very active member on the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation board.
Doris was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, BPO Does, PEO Chapter AH, serving in many of that organization’s offices. She was a lifetime member of Friends of the Library, Alliance Military Museum, RSVP, and the BBGH Auxiliary. Her love of music was life long, playing for the Alliance City Band as well as singing in the Alliance Community Choir for much of her life.
Doris married Arden O. Laursen on December 10, 1961, and they spent 35 years together, enjoying serving the community with their combined creative talents and work ethic, until Arden succumbed to cancer. On March 30, 1998, she married Arnold E. Kuhn. After nine years together traveling the country and enjoying each other’s passion for music, she lost him to cancer as well. The loves of her life were her husbands and their families, her Church and her church family, Carnegie Arts Center, working in her yard and flower gardens (which were often a part of Alliance’s Garden Tour), music, working crosswords, traveling, and doing for others. After her 90th birthday Doris discovered a new talent and filled volumes of art books with her colored pencil drawings of flowers, gardens, birds and farm scenes that she loved.
Preceding Doris in death were her parents, Gordon and Iola, her sister Helen Anabel Fosbury, her brother Donald G. Ivarson, and her sister-in-law Ariel Ivarson.
She is survived by her five stepchildren: Deborah (Brian) Nowell-Laursen of Killeen, TX, Kathryn (Roger, deceased) Gaertig-Kuhn of Columbus, OH; Brent (Jeanne) Kuhn, of Longmont, CO; Brian (Sondra) Kuhn, and Martin (Jane) Kuhn, both of Hemingford, NE. She has 14 step-grandchildren (13 surviving, one deceased), 28 step-great grandchildren, her niece Lynne (Gordon) Welch of El Paso, TX, her nephew Jay (Rose) Fosbury of Fredericksburg, TX and five other nieces and nephews and their children, as well as cousins spread across the country.
Her funeral service will be at the First Presbyterian Church of Alliance, Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Sue Spencer officiating. After the service, burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. All are invited to a lunch at the church following the burial. Bates Gould Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.
Memorials may be designated to the First Presbyterian Church, Carnegie Arts Center, or the organization of the donor’s choice.