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   Doris May Sipola, age 88, of Roseville, Minnesota, passed away on October 6, 2026, at United Hospital in St. Paul.

   She was born on January 7, 1938, in Embarrass, Minnesota, to Henry and Hilma (Mikkola) Sipola, the youngest of nine children. After high school she moved to the Twin Cities. She was married to Bruce Kurtz. 

   She raised her family in Blaine and, after retirement, moved to Roseville to be close to her grandsons. She worked as a nurse’s aide for the Fridley School District, as a secretary in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Human Sexuality, and at UCare Minnesota. 

   She loved to dance, to spend time at the family cabin on Lake Washburn, and to enjoy a Corona beer. She never missed one of her grandsons’ hockey or lacrosse games. She was immensely proud of her Finnish family heritage, trips to Finland, staying in touch with Finnish family members, and a good sauna and campfire at the lake. She was a model of Finnish ‘sisu’ with her resilience but also loved to laugh and always said yes to any plans to get-together. 

   She is survived by her daughters, Karna (Rob Mostrom) Kurtz and Kelly (Scott) Mark; and her grandsons, Ian and Sean Mark and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

   She was preceded in death by her parents and all eight of her siblings: Harriet (Walter) Mattson, Betty 

(Laurie) Hill, Bill (Irene Harju) Sipola, Jeannette (Rob) Mattson, Mariam (Martin) Gornick, Ruth (Lester) Alaspa, James (Helvi Holappa) Sipola, and Margie (Abba) Skube.  

   Doris always supported Type 1 Diabetes research and would appreciate contributions in her name to https://www.breakthrought1d.org/ 

   A private ceremony will be held at Lake Washburn. 

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