Wilma Eileen Walkling was born to parents Leo and Geneva at home near Lakeview, South Dakota February 24, 1936. She was welcomed by sister Melva and brothers Wendell, John (Tim), and Elwin (Al). Upon arrival, Al would ask about the Dolly and the nickname stuck. She attended grade schools in rural South Dakota and graduated from Western Christian High School located in Hull, Iowa in 1954.
On October 7, 1955 she married Delmar Markus at Purewater Christian Reformed Church in Lakeview, South Dakota. Two sons, Richard and Russell, were born to this union. Farming kept the family in Lakeview for several years followed by moves to Vermillion, SD and Denver, CO. The death of Delmar’s father brought the family to Valentine where they remained. Delmar and Doll purchased the Coin Command Laundromat and Dry Cleaning in 1976. (Rusty still thinks they sponsored the best men’s softball team ever!)
Following Delmar's death in 1988, Doll joined a grief support group where she met and later married Terry Kaiser. She enjoyed several years with him until his death in 2015. When a fire destroyed the laundromat, she began working as a receptionist at the First National Bank of Valentine and then she worked at Hometown Lumber where she finished her working career.
Doll was a member of Lakeview Christian Reformed Church and Valentine United Methodist Church. She passed away March 10, 2022 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth, NE.
Doll was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Geneva, husbands Delmar and Terry, and siblings Melva, Wendell and Tim.
Left to mourn her passing are brother Al (Jerean) Walkling; sons Rich (Pam) and Rusty (Dedee); and grandchildren Missy (Brad) Nicholson, Sean (Kayla) Markus, Lacey (Drew) Luebe, Ryan (Dawn) Markus, Mike (Leanne) Mulligan and Ryan (Heather) Mulligan; great grandchildren: Dane Garner, Evelyn, Ansley and Barrett Markus, Maddie, Brice and Baker Luebe, Grace and Ella Markus, Zane (Kim) Mulligan, and Hunter (Hannah) Mulligan, and Brea and Ella Mulligan.
Memorial service was held Monday, March 14, 2022 at the Valentine United Methodist Church with private family inurnment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.