Doris Louise (Schoening) Krebill

Doris Louise (Schoening) Krebill died peacefully surrounded by her family on February 4, 2025 at age 99 after a brief illness. Doris was born October 12, 1925, to William and Louise Schoening in LaSalle, Illinois. She grew up in a loving, close-knit family which included her brothers, Karl, Bill, and Kurt. She attended schools in LaSalle and she was actively involved in the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Doris was a Girl Scout in her youth and she took piano lessons and learned to play proficiently. Throughout her childhood her family enjoyed close connections on both the Joop and Schoening sides of the family.

Doris graduated high school in 1943. Because of World War II and with her brother Bill stationed overseas, Doris delayed going to college and went to work for Westclox in Peru, Illinois. In the fall of 1945, Doris entered Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Christian education. During her sophomore year, Doris began dating Paul Krebill after he noticed Doris playing tennis on the court across from his dormitory. Doris said she fell in love with Paul because of his kind gentle ways and because he made her laugh. Doris and Paul became engaged their senior year and graduated together in the Class of 1949. They were married on August 19, 1950, and they honeymooned in the Great Smoky Mountains. As newlyweds, Doris worked in downtown Chicago while Paul attended McCormick Theological Seminary.

After Paul’s ordination, Doris and Paul moved to Wyoming, which began their lifelong love of the West. Paul served as pastor of the Presbyterian Community Churches of Yoder and Hawk Springs from 1952-1956. They moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1956 where Paul took a position as the Campus Minister to Montana State University. During their years (1956-1967) in Bozeman, they were members of First Presbyterian Church where Doris applied her Christian Education degree with various responsibilities in the Sunday School program, youth ministry, and in the Women’s Association. For many years Doris and Paul hosted MSU students in their home each Friday evening for refreshments and socializing.

While living in Bozeman, Paul and Doris’s three children were born: Ross William in 1956 (who died in 1960), Dan Peter in 1958, and Rose Louise in 1960. In the fall of 1967, Doris and Paul moved the family to Billings, Montana where Paul became the founding pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Doris was proud to be a homemaker and pastor’s wife. She and Paul guided and supported their children through all their school studies and endeavors and especially with their musical pursuits on violin and cello. She was a Boy Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Brownie leader, and she taught Children’s Church School for many years. Doris was also active in Church Women United.

After Paul’s retirement in 1992, they returned to Bozeman, where they were active in First Presbyterian Church. Doris enjoyed gardening, picking raspberries and huckleberries, baking pies, and preparing meals for the family. Doris also enjoyed playing the piano for church related activities as well as for enjoyment. Doris and Paul camped in Grand Teton National Park every August with the family for over fifty years. Doris and Paul took delight in their four grandchildren over the years, encouraging and loving each one of them as individuals. Doris also relished becoming a great-grandma in recent years.

Doris was immediately likeable to all whom she met, and she maintained a cheerful, positive outlook throughout her years. After Paul’s death in 2021, Doris was welcomed into her son Dan and daughter-in-law Jody’s home for her final four years, where she enjoyed being with family and was lovingly cared for as her health declined.

Born of Christian parents and heritage and baptized as an infant, Doris confirmed those vows in her youth and belonged to Christ all her earthly life with the blessed assurance of entering now into Christ’s eternal kingdom.

Doris is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Paul, her son Ross, her parents, and her brothers Karl and Bill. She is survived by her son Dan Krebill (Jody McDevitt) of Billings, her daughter Rose Krebill-Prather (Tim Prather) of Moscow, Idaho, her granddaughters Alice (Krebill) Asleson (Paul) and Martha Krebill, and grandsons Tristan Prather and Ian Prather (Katie Hukill), and great grandchildren Oliver, Adeline, and Evelyn. She is also survived by her brother Kurt (Frances) and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 11 A.M. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Billings Montana. The service can also be viewed on Facebook at fb.me/stabillings (no Facebook account required.  Memorial gifts can be given to the St. Andrew Community Garden c/o St Andrew Presbyterian Church, 180 24th Street West, Billings, MT 59102