Doris Mae Heyntsen, 92, passed away September 6, 2023 in Burlington WA at HomePlace Memory Care with her daughters by her side.

Born in Bellingham, on November 13, 1930, to Herbert and Dorothy White, Doris was raised by her two loving parents.  She was joined years later by brothers Robert and Douglas White and helped her parents care for the boys.

As a child, Doris spent her summers with her parents, brothers, cousins, and family friends at a cabin her father built on the shoreline of Lake Samish.

Doris graduated from Bellingham High School in 1948.

She started working in her teens and enjoyed her jobs at a theatre and ice cream parlor, before excelling as a bookkeeper for JCPenney in downtown Bellingham.

Always stylish and well-mannered, Doris caught the eye of her future husband when dancing with friends at the Seven Cedars Dance Hall in Mount Vernon.

After just a few months of dating, Doris married Einar Heyntsen on September 18, 1954 in her hometown.

Doris left city life behind and moved to the rural outskirts of Burlington where she and her husband built a home where they resided for 66 years.

Doris was blessed with 3 daughters and became a homemaker who worked hard for her family with love by preparing meals, sewing dresses, canning fruits and vegetables, all while keeping the family farm's books in order.

On the farm, she was the field boss for the seasonal crew of teenagers and migrants who worked harvesting the family's raspberries and cucumber crops.

Doris faithfully attended Burlington Lutheran Church.  She served in various roles, including Treasurer.

There she was involved in small groups who met for many years where Doris formed life-long friendships.

Outside of the home, Doris worked as an election poll worker for Skagit County, heading her local precinct for years.

Along with her husband, Doris attended all her children's and grandchildren's special events.  At her home she hosted the family Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners.  Sunday afternoons in the summer were spent at Lake Samish with her family.  In retirement, Einar and Doris made many bus trips to Reno with friends.  She also looked forward to playing BINGO and going out to breakfast.

Doris was caring and gentle and lived by example.  She graciously treated all who she met with respect and kindness and made sure everyone felt welcomed and loved.

In her final years, dementia took most of her memory, but she always remembered her three girls.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers and a special cousin, Lucille Crofoot.

She is survived by her children, Cindy (Asher) Cohen, Nancy (John) VanPelt, Dorothy (Randy) Geoghegan; grandchildren, Eric (Andrea) VanPelt, Michael (Wendy) VanPelt, Traci (Paul) Montiel, Jason Slotemaker, Joseph (Monique) Slotemaker, Kevin Geoghegan, Kelli (Ryan) Carter, Aaron (Krista) Cohen, and Ada Cohen; great-grandchildren, Spencer Slotemaker, Grace and Jacob VanPelt, Blake and Myah Montiel, Henry Slotemaker, Ava and Madison Cohen, Osmand and Oliver Carter, Willow and Rhyder; sister-in-law Lorna White and numerous nephews and nieces.

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service which will be held on Saturday, September 16, 11:00 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Cemetery in Burlington, WA.  A reception will follow at 12:00 noon in the fellowship hall at Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 E. Victoria Ave, Burlington, WA.

Memorials may be made to Burlington Lutheran Church, burlingtonlutheran.org, and the American Cancer Society.

Please visit www.hulbushfuneralhome.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.

Arrangements are under the care of Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington, WA.