Dorisa Young was a very spirited young lady. She was diagnosed with Nuerofibramatosis Type II at the age of 11. She has been thru 55 surgeries/procedures. Does she ask God, "Why me, God?" . . . NO. Instead she said, "Why not." Doesn't want anyone else to go thru what she has. She has not had a day without pain.
Stubborn - YES! She turned 37. When we first started with all these surgeries, the doctor said she wouldn't see her 18th birthday. Guess what! She always said, "Somebody forgot to tell God!" (Or maybe He just isn't ready for her yet). We always say she is a cross between great-grandma Rueb (who lived to be 101 and a very strong 100% German) and grandma Young (a Norwegian). Enough said.
In 1993, Make-A-Wish granted her wish to go to Disney World. With the help of Make-A-Wish, she got to meet a lot of people that she probably wouldn't have met just because of her disease. I think all the cowboys in South Dakota know who she is. She definitely was our "cowgirl." She always waited for the Finals in September to see all her fans at the rodeo.
She had met George Blanda-Football Hall of Famer (who she wrote back and forth with until his death), Vince Gill (who she sat on his lap while he sang to her and bought her a very pretty outfit/jewelry), Amy Grant, Charles Barkley (who she kissed the top of his bald head), Kris Tschetter, Mike Miller, and the list goes on.
Dorisa had been a living-walking-talking testimony all of her life. She was baptized in the church's swimming pool! Fun, huh! She had been an inspiration to a lot of people. She had her up and down days but they are few and far between.
She had been described as the Energizer Bunny - she just kept going, and going, and going. And that was her :-) Did not feel sorry for herself. Needed to be on the go and involved, especially with kids. She absolutely loved the kids at Awana. God had a special plan for you.
Dorisa Marie Young was born on Nov. 26, 1975, in the Gregory Hospital, Gregory. She lived in Burke, Gregory, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Brandon. She attended school in Mitchell, and Sioux Falls. Later completing her school education in SD School for the Deaf. Later getting her Associate Degree in Graphics Communication at SETI.
Dorisa is survived by her parents, Doyle and Barbara; brother, Darin (Marcia) and sister Cassandra (Todd) Gardner; and nieces and nephews: Brooke and Ian Gardner and Alaina, Gavin and Hailey Young; and a host of cousins; relative and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harven and Florance Rueb and Darrel and Helen Young.
Funeral services will be held at Faith United Presbyterian Church in Brandon at 10 a.m. Friday with family visitation at Brandon Valley Baptist Church, Brandon from 5-7 p.m. Thursday and formal prayer service at 7 p.m.