Doreen “Reenie” Esping, age 88, of Porter, MN passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at the Alexandria Senior Living Center in Alexandria, MN. Funeral service will be held at 2:00p.m. on Monday, April 19th at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Canby, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Wergeland Cemetery in Porter, MN. Houseman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Doreen “Reenie” (Welvaert) Esping was born February 3, 1933 on a farm in Lyon County to Victor and Anne (Nuytten) Welvaert. She grew up on the farm and attended District 12 Country School one year. She graduated from Lynd High School in 1951. Following High School, she worked the first summer at the Emporium Department Store in St. Paul, MN. She then returned to Marshall, MN and worked at Kay’s Shoe Store. She later worked at the First National Bank in Marshall and Moorhead, MN. She met Herman “Junior” Esping of Taunton at a dance and this is where the great love story began. They were married March 26th, 1955 where they farmed, lived and danced for 62 amazing years. Junior and Reenie had 3 kids (Luanne, Randy and Trish). When the kids got a little older, she went back to work and worked at Cobbler’s Corner in Canby for 5 years. She then worked at Canby Drug and Gifts (formerly Paulson’s Drug) for 30 plus years. She retired in January of 2017 at the age of 83. She made a lovely home for her family and was a great hostess for countless family and friends over the years providing unforgettable experiences for so many. She miraculously created feasts that appeared effortless. She was famous for her pie crust (pecan, rhubarb and strawberry pies). She loved a good laugh and made everyone around her laugh with her wonderful sense of humor. She had a talent for putting together “Shows” starring herself and Junior. Of course Junior usually had no idea of what his role was but he played his part every time. She endured the endless harvest of Junior’s very successful garden that led to endless canning and freezing of veggies and raspberries. She generously helped so many through her work and her loving heart. Life with Reenie was full of love and smiles. She loved her family endlessly and loved spending time with all of the grand and great grandkids. She leaves a legacy of hope, love, perseverance and great style. She taught us all so much by simply being who she was.
Grateful for having shared Doreen’s life are her three children: Luanne (Ken) Eatwell, Randy (Deb) Esping and Trish (Terry) Koussis; six grandchildren: Sagen Eatwell, Matt Esping, Steve (Brooke) Esping, Andrew Hokanson, John and Chris Koussis; 8 great-grandchildren: Emily Esping, Lydia Esping, Melina Warner, Oakley Esping, Laken Esping, Finlee Esping, August Hokanson and Graham Hokanson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Anne (Nuytten) Welvaert; her husband, Herman “Junior” Esping and 5 siblings: Jenny (Welvaert) Carl, RoseAnn “Toots” (Welvaert) Lanoue, Jim Welvaert, Robert “Bob” Welvaert, Linda Jean Welvaert.
