Doris Slunecka, 88, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Miller, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Legends on Lake Lorraine in Sioux Falls, with her daughters at her side.
Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church, Miller, with Rev. Allison Galbreath officiating. Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller, at a later date. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., Friday, February 14, 2025, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.
Doris was born January 23, 1937, in Miller to Clayton and Rosella (Comstock) Morris. She and her sister, Joyce were raised on a farm near Rockham, South Dakota, where she attended the elementary school near their farm and had fond memories of their family hosting and keeping many pastors and school teachers through the years. She graduated from Miller High School in 1955.
She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Slunecka, on June 1, 1955, in Polo, South Dakota. To this marriage of 66 years, three daughters were born, Christine, Kay Lynn, and Brenda. They resided on Robert’s family farm northwest of Miller and later moved to their home one mile north of Miller.
In July of 2021, after the passing of Robert, Doris moved to the house they had built in Sioux Falls, South Dakota then a year later moved to Legends on Lake Lorraine in Sioux Falls where she spent the rest of her days.
Her work history started early on as she loved being outside helping her “daddy” on the farm. During high school she lived in Miller at the dorm and worked part-time at JC Penney. After marriage and as her children grew, she began driving the school bus for the Miller School District, a job she loved for over 15 years. Her bus children were like family. Eventually, she took a position as a bridal consultant for Stella Foreman at Marry Me Boutique in Highmore for 3-4 years.
Doris was a member of the Miller United Methodist Church where she served on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and was very dedicated in her role there. She was formerly a member of the Redfield Methodist Church in Redfield. In earlier years music kept her busy with her many solos and groups. She always enjoyed gardening, mowing, and helping with the cattle on the family farm. She was the best chauffeur running her daughters to all their events, none of which she missed as she was their biggest cheerleader in both school and 4-H activities and anything in between. Her love for music took her and Robert to ballroom and square dancing lessons as well as being a long time member of the Drifters and Dreamers vocal group, which she truly loved. She enjoyed her time with friends going on outings with the Red Hats group.
She always had time for friends and family, attending as many activities as possible for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Family was her world, and the family vacations meant so much to her. As the family grew, so did the number in the vacation group. Along with her family, her greatest blessings were her pets and the close-knit group of friends she had since high school.
She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, relative, and friend. There will never be a way to repay her for the time, miles, love, and energy she devoted to taking care of her adult daughters through severe illness. Through it all, she lived her life with a SMILE.
Grateful to be cherished by her are daughters, Kay Lynn Burnham of Sioux Falls and Brenda (Bill) Becker of Redfield; grandchildren: Xavier (Mariah) Garcia, Chandra (Bryant) Larson, Tyler (Amber) Burnham, Vanessa (Steve) Papesh and Damon Becker; great grandchildren: Alana, Zander, Dominic, Izaiah and Novah Garcia, Ember and Amelia Larson, and Izabella Papesh; sister, Joyce Sanger; and 10 special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Slunecka; parents, Clayton and Rosella Morris; daughter, Christine Garcia; son-in-law, Angel Garcia; and brother-in-law, Daelyn Sanger.
The family would like to give special thanks to Jeff and Pam Heasley, Steve and Lori Resel, the staff at Legends on Lake Lorraine, and the staff at St Croix Hospice.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Doris’ arrangements.
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