Doris Swenson Whithorn

Doris Whithorn, age 96, of Livingston died Friday, July 19 after a long and productive life as a Park County and Yellowstone Park historian. A Celebration of Doris's life will take place Saturday, September 21, 2013, at Holbrook United Methodist Church, at the corner of 5th & Lewis Streets, at 1 PM. Doris was born on the family farm near Davenport, NE on December 18, 1916 to Arthur and Lois Swenson. She and William F. (Bill) Whithorn were married June 25, 1939, and moved to Billings shortly thereafter. While in Billings, the Whithorns welcomed 4 children, Bruce, Carol, Alta, and Duane. They purchased The Wan-I-Gan and moved to Paradise Valley in 1948. Several country schools, churches and clubs benefitted from Doris' early writing: plays, poetry, and pantomimes suited for various occasions. In 1951 she began sawing up deer and elk antlers to make jewelry and souvenirs, and the cage of live rattlesnakes was a real draw for locals and tourists alike. In 1964 Doris rekindled her love of history (her college major) when Fred Martin of the Park County News asked Bill and Doris to do the Pioneer Edition of the paper. This progressed to the publishing and selling of many historical books of the area over the ensuing years. By 1989 the Whithorns had self-published 92,000 copies of 18 different titles. Most of them were 48-page Photo Histories. Bill did the photography and Doris researched and wrote the history. After Bill passed away in 1990 Doris had more books and articles published. In 1976 the Whithorns sold The Wan-I-Gan and renovated the North Side School in Livingston into the Park County Museum, now the Yellowstone Gateway Museum. They built an apartment in the basement and lived there until 1986, and again from 1993-1997. In 1983 Doris completed the compilation and publication of the Tapestry of the Yellowstone Conference of the Methodist Church, listing churches and biographies of pastors. In 1984 she headed a committee of volunteers who collected historical and biographical information of people and places for the 512-page History of Park County. Doris was involved in the Genealogy Society, Yellowstone Club, Park Co. Pioneers, Park Co. Historical Society, Montana Historical Society, Senior Citizens, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Park County Museum, and the Pine Creek Methodist church, as well as the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Planning Committee. She gained the most joy from presenting historical programs and tours to school children and adults. Some of the distinctive awards Doris received are the Peter Yegen Lifetime Achievement Award from the MT Historical Society, the MT Governor's Award as the District Senior Citizen of Distinction, and in 2005 she was awarded the Livingston Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for preserving Park County. history. She was grand marshal of the Livingston Roundup Parade in 1993. In addition to her 4 children, Doris had 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Carol Orr of Butte and Alta LeDoux (Vern) of Livingston; and daughters-in-law Karen Whithorn of Vancouver, WA and Diana Whithorn of Livingston. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Orville Swenson, husband Bill, sons Bruce and Duane, and grandson Ronnie Stands. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Box 815, Livingston; Pine Creek Methodist Church, 2470 E. River Rd, or a charity of the donor's choice.