Doris Elaine Spang

Doris Elaine Spang, 87, passed away at Edgewood Memory Care in Missoula Montana on March 11, 2024. Doris was born the fourth of five children to Nina and James P Spang in Lame Deer, Montana on May 18, 1936. She was an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe.

Doris began school in Forsyth, but moved with her family to Dixon two years later, spending her remaining childhood living there at the Agency. Doris knew from a young age that she wanted to attend college and further her education, something her mother told her would never happen.

At age 33, as a single mom with 6 kids, Doris achieved her goal and started college. She earned a master’s degree in Native American art. She later went back for a second master’s in counseling when she started working for the Missoula high schools as the coordinator for the new Native American program, a position requiring a counseling degree. She later worked with the alternative school and the young mother’s program as a counselor. 

In 1985, Doris met Gary Kinzner at Echo Lake when her friend Penne sent her to “find guy with a boat”. It was a while before Gary learned that it was the boat that Penne told her was the prize. This story continues to bring a laugh to family and friends.

Months later, when he was given a job opportunity in North Carolina, Gary mentioned it to Doris saying he would probably not take it. She suggested he take it and she go with him. This began a new adventure. 

During their years in the south, Doris and Gary enjoyed planning and remodeling three homes. Their lake house was a favorite of their children and grandchildren, and many vacations were spent swimming and water skiing. Doris loved having her family visit.

While in North Carolina, Doris was a case manager for mental health and later worked as an administrator for the Virginia state mental health. She worked there until she retired.

When she  retired in 2000, Doris was able to return to her love of art. She settled on watercolor painting,  and Gary built her an art studio. They spent a week in Mexico at a figure painting workshop and her art really took off. 

 Doris and Gary took several trips throughout the US in their RV with Sophie, their silky terrier. They visited family regularly and in 2001, Doris was able travel to Australia to visit her two oldest children.

Doris was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008 and the doctors predicted she had only 5 more years when her treatment ended. Not one to give up, Doris carried on. In 2012, Doris and Gary moved to an island in Western Washington to be closer to family. During the summer of 2017, Glenda and Robby traveled to the United States and all six of Doris’s children reunited on Anderson Island for the first time in more than 45 years.

After a particularly dreary winter in 2018 they moved to Canby, Oregon where Gary created a home out of an outbuilding at her son, JD’s home. In late 2022, they returned to Montana for more family support as Doris’s health and memory declined. She took a turn for the worse after having Covid and the family made the decision to move her into memory care.

This decision provided her with the best possible care while still seeing family regularly. Doris was not particularly outgoing, but she loved being around people and would participate regularly in the activities. She even had a bit of a competitive spirit. As Doris’s health declined, the Edgewood family surrounded her and her family with love and support, helping her to begin her next big adventure.

 Doris and Gary had several faithful companions and she is survived by her faithful companions, Rusty and Molly. They loved visiting her at Edgewood whenever they were allowed.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James E Spang, and her sisters, Shirley Spang Boucher and Rita Spang Schurman. She is survived by her life partner, Gary Kinzner of Stevensville, her brother, Dennis Spang, of Davis, CA, her children, Glenda Locke( Glen) and Robby Newman (Lois) of Western Australia, Sheila Gonzalez (Marc) of Missoula, Cindi Johnston of Whidbey Island, WA, JD Johnston of Oregon, and Bob Johnston (Christina) of Waxhaw, NC. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and twenty nieces and nephews. Family was very important to Doris and each of these people held special places in her heart.

The family wishes to thank Missoula Edgewood Memory Care and Big Sky Hospice and Palliative Care for their loving care and support. A celebration of life will take place in May, followed by a private burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula.