Doris Molln, 92, of Greenfield

Funeral Services: Will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Memorials: May be made to the Doris Molln Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Doris Dell Bunce Molln was born March 10, 1933 in Harrison Township, Adair County, Iowa, the daughter of Dale and Gladys (Beaman) Bunce. She passed away April 25th at the Greenfield Hospital at the age of 92.

Doris was raised in Harrison Township near Arbor Hill (aka Port Union). She attended a one room country school for her early years then attended and graduated from Stuart High School.

Doris was the youngest child with 3 widely spaced older siblings; two brothers, Claire and Earl, and a sister Helen. She remembered being a happy child, spending most of her time outdoors, around the farm, and in the woods of the nearby Middle RIver. She continued this love of nature for her whole life. Doris always loved animals and especially horses.

Doris first met her future husband, Dale Molln, at an informal softball game of local community teams. Dale grew up only a few miles south of her but had attended Greenfield schools and they hadn’t crossed paths. They began dating and (except for the Korean War) were inseparable for the next 75 years. She told dating stories of roller skating, homemade ice cream socials, and getting stuck on the muddy rural roads between their houses.

Doris and Dale were married April 6th, 1952 at the local Fairview Church. They honeymooned at Niagara Falls. Doris and Dale were happily married for 73 years and 19 days. They farmed one season until Dale was called to serve in the Korean War in November of that same year. During the 22 months Dale was in Korea, Doris lived with an aunt in Creston and worked as an accountant/bookkeeper.

They then took their turn farming the land that has been in the Molln family for 157 years. It was a challenging life but with hard work, they were successful grain and livestock farmers. Doris was an active partner on the farm, throwing hay bales, driving tractors, milking cows, doing hard physical work every day. Doris and Dale had three sons during these years: Eldon 1955, Dennis 1958, Alan 1960. Farming and parenting these boys kept them busy. They had many farming friends they enjoyed visiting and for a time were very active in square dancing.

In 1972, Dale seriously injured his neck. He recovered, but was unable to continue farming. They sold off their livestock and machinery in December of 1973 and opened a new store in Greenfield. Western Auto and Furniture. This was a major life change but they again used hard work and Doris’s bookkeeping skills to make it a success. They originally lived in an apartment above the store and in 1983 built a house overlooking the community swimming pool, where she lived the rest of her life. They sold the store and retired in 1992. They helped their sons with the construction of their homes and doted on their grandchildren. Doris later worked as a 2000 census taker in Adair County. They returned to farming the land part-time after a few years of retirement.

Doris remained healthy and active through her 80’s. She continued to garden and can vegetables. She enjoyed bonfires, card playing and exploring new places. Doris loved traveling and camped throughout much of the midwest and west including Alaska and Hawaii, often bringing home pretty rocks as souvenirs. Doris and Dale also traveled to Europe and toured through Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria.

Doris’s very favorite activity was spending time with family and friends. She will be remembered as a kind and gentle woman who never made an enemy in her life. She always imagined herself and Dale as a single team working their way through life’s challenges and rewards.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings and their spouses, and Dale’s parents, his siblings and their spouses.

Celebrating all she taught us about life and love are, her husband Dale; three sons, Eldon (Laura) of Greenfield, Dennis (Kerry) of Mason City, and Alan (Denisse Allaire) of Greenfield: four grandchildren, Melody (Brian) Butler, Whitney (Derrick) Loftus, Aaron Krogh, and Paul Krogh: and two great grandchildren, Hadley and Brecken Butler.