Doris Marie Hines

Doris was born December 12, 1926, to Henry Halla and Julia Kotrc Halla on their farm near Cotesfield, Nebraska. She married John Hines, whom she met in 1946 when on a trip with two girlfriends to Gothenburg, Nebraska, on April 19, 1947.  They lived for a short time in Cozad, Nebraska, before moving to Grand Island, where they lived for the bulk of their lives together.  Doris attended the Grand Island School of Beauty and earned her cosmetologist’s license in 1958.  She had her own “beauty salon” in their home and worked as a hairdresser for 25 years.

During their years in Grand Island, Doris and the family were members of the Trinity United Methodist Church.  Doris spent many hours volunteering in the church office folding bulletins and helping in other ways.  She was a faithful friend to many in Grand Island and assisted several elderly friends and relatives in their later years.  She was known for her Spring and Fall garage sales which always drew a large turnout!  Doris loved to crochet and made countless afghans.  After she and John moved to Lincoln, she crocheted stocking caps for the new babies born at the local hospital.  She made well over 200!  She was an avid reader and kept her daughter-in-law, Dee, busy checking out and returning library books for her to read.  Doris was a wonderful cook—her specialties included the best fried chicken and gravy in the world, Bohemian foods such as potato dumplings with roast pork, and her family-famous sour cream chocolate cake.  Although she knew really nothing about football, other than to cheer when her team made a touchdown, she was a Husker fan and watched the televised games regularly.

Doris almost always had a smile on her face.  She was warm and friendly to all, had a ready laugh and a wonderfully fun sense of humor—all of which she kept until the day she died.  In the early 1970s, Doris came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  Her faith in Him was strong and carried her straight into His waiting arms upon her death.  She knew where she was going and had no fear—rather she couldn’t wait to go and be with the Lord.

In 2006, Doris and John moved to Lincoln to be closer to Jim and Dee due to some health struggles.  Thanks to the Lord and Dee’s nutritional help, Mom’s health improved greatly and remained strong until the very end.  Mom lived alone in their apartment for 11 years after John died in 2009.  When the Covid-19 pandemic reared up, the decision was made for Doris to move in with Jim and Dee.  They created a cozy mother-in-law apartment for her where she lived until she passed.  It was wonderful for her to be with family, taking all her meals with them, but having her own private space.

Doris passed away on June 13, 2023. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; her older brother, Rudy (Mary) Halla; her younger sister, Lois (Ed) Penas.  She is survived by her son, Jim (Dee) Hines of Lincoln; her daughter, Sue (Mike) Vanlaningham of Ingleside, Illinois; grandchildren Cherie (Jared) Anderson, Jenni Olesen, Becky (Bob) Stevenson, and Tim (Natalie) Vanlaningham, 16 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  She has left a legacy of joy, love, laughter, and faith.  Her remains will be interred at West Lawn Cemetery next to John in Grand Island, Nebraska.

A Celebration of Life service with luncheon to follow is being held on August 5, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Lincoln Berean Church: 6400 South 70^th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68516.

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