Doris Magdalene Sloan

Doris Magdalene Johnson Sloan, 87, of Rigby, Idaho, died May 20th 2005 at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls. She was born in her parent’s family farm house on May 12th, 1918 in Hayes Center, Nebraska the youngest of seven children to hard working parents Henry Johnson and Mary Walker Johnson. She attended High School at Hayes Center, Nebraska and graduated two years early in 1934 just after her 16th birthday. After graduation she took and passed the states teaching exam and with some begging to her mother she went on to teach school at Hayes Center, Nebraska in a one room classroom for two years. Knowing there was more in life for her to do Doris again went back to school and in 1941 received her Registered Nurse degree from St Francis School of Nursing in Nebraska. Immediately after graduating and with the country in the middle of WWII Doris sent in her application to join the Army and in March of 1942 was accepted and served as a 1st Lieutenant Army nurse for three years. While serving stateside in California she met an injured soldier, Paul Alexander Sloan and they were later married on August 17, 1944 in Los Angeles, Ca. They then moved to Henderson, Nevada where Paul worked as a heavy equipment operator and Doris worked at Rose De Lima Hospital as a surgical operating room nurse for 19 years while raising their children. After the children were grown and with still more in life to do Doris went back to school and received her degree as a Nurse Practitioner working in Pahrump, Nevada a small community in need of a medical provider. In 1982, after the death of her husband the year before, Doris moved to Rigby, Idaho to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Doris worked as an RN in nursing homes in Idaho Falls, Rigby, and Rexburg, until she retired at the age of 75. Doris liked working with people and was seen as a frequent visitor to the Rigby Senior Citizen Center and went out of her way to bring visually impaired seniors with her. Doris was an avid horseman, participating in 4-H, gymkhana, and rodeo, and was the Jefferson County Great Grandma Rodeo Queen in 1986 at the young age of 68. She loved her family and was seen following her many grandchildren and great grandchildren to all their events and programs. Doris was a devoted Catholic and regularly attended services in Rexburg. She lived life to the fullest everyday. What a great example she was to her family and friends. She will truly be missed. Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Allen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, her 3 sons, Paul (Sherry) Sloan Jr. of Rigby, Idaho, Lyle (Frances) Sloan of Rigby, Idaho, and Mike (Debbie) Sloan of Blackfoot, Idaho, her sister, Bertha Young of Grovetown, Georgia, twelve grandchildren, Amy, Sara, Paul, Patty, Rick, Tana, Stephanie, Jennifer, Trisha, Steven, Kristen, and JD and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, infant daughter, Patricia, 2 brothers Leo and Earl, and 3 sisters, Agnes, Jenny, and Geraldine, a granddaughter Kimberly and a great-grandson, Jack. Funeral services will be at 1:00pm, Tuesday May 24th, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main Street, Rigby, Idaho, 83442. Friends may visit with the family at Eckersell Memorial Chapel from 7-8:30pm on Monday, May 23rd prior to the services from 11:30 a.m. – 12: 45 p.m.. Burial will be in Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. The family wishes to thank all the staff at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls for the excellent level of care that they provided to our Mother and Grandmother while she was there.