Doraine Mae Starks

Doraine Mae (Newberg) Starks died peacefully on October 14, 2023.

Funeral service will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James, on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Doraine was born in St. James, MN on February 21, 1928 to Emma and Edgar Newberg. She graduated from St. James High School and then went on to graduate from Mankato Commercial College.  What she learned at home and at school taught her the talents and skills she used throughout her career at work and at home.  She enjoyed her work at the Owatonna City Hospital, where she began her career as a bookkeeper and ended it as the CFO.

She was married to Wayne Starks on October 19, 1948.

Mom loved her family and loved being surrounded by the young ones.  One of the ways she showed her love was by baking special treats whenever the family gathered: pies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, bread.  Thus, she was lovingly dubbed Grandma Dough.

In addition, Doraine loved to sew, garden, bird watch and was an avid reader.  There was always a sewing project on the go, first clothes for her and her children, then quilts. Each child and grandchild received at least one unique quilt plus there were many more.  Mom’s gardens always had a tiny spot for the veggies, but the flowers were everywhere!!

Doraine was preceded in death by a son, James Edward Starks as well as her parents, Edgar and Emma Newberg.  She was also preceded in death by her 9 siblings, Helen Knake, Ruth Evers, Doris Johnson, Allen, Robert, Douglas, Richard, Ronald, and Nedford Newberg.

She is survived by children, Larry (Joyce) Starks, Linda Nagy, Janet Starks, and Ken (Sue) Starks; grandchildren,  Christy (Stefanie) Starks, Andrew (Megan) Starks, Jessica Nagy, Martin Nagy, Amanda Starks, Brittany (Jon) Brandon, Sydney (Jonathan) Starks, Samantha Starks; as well as 10 great grandchildren.