Ella Marie (aka) Ella Ree was born on September 10, 1915 to William and Carrie (McCarty) Breuer in Larchwood, IA. She attended rural public schools, and graduated from Rock Rapid high school. After a term at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA, she taught in a rural country school in Logan Township for six years.
On August 23, 1939, Ella Ree was united in marriage to Wayne Doss of Rock Rapids, IA. They raised four children and a special niece, Diane Breuer, who joined the family at age three after the death of her mother. They successively lived in Rock Rapids, Sioux Falls and Mitchell, SD before purchasing an International Harvester dealership in Salem, SD in 1950. Ella Ree was involved in the running of the business, and kept the books for the several years of its operation. After Wayne’s death in 1976 she and the family continued to operate the Implement Business for another 10 years.
Ella Ree was a member of St. Mary’s Altar Society, the National Catholic Society of Foresters, and part of a Kitchen Kadoodler Band for several years. She enjoyed playing cards and belonged to several different card clubs playing well into her 90’s. Ella Ree loved spending time with her grandchildren playing cards, board games and attending their various activities.
Ella Ree continued to live in Salem until 2003 when she moved to Sioux Falls to be closer to her children. Grateful for having shared her life are her four children and a special niece, Diane Breuer. Survivors include Allan Doss, Lakewood, WA, Dean (Donna) Doss, Brookings, SD, Carol Doss and Cindy (Bert) Olson, Sioux Falls, SD, and Diane (Mark) Jorgensen, Aberdeen, SD, ten grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ella Ree was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne, brothers Robert and Donald Breuer, three sisters; Sister Mary Eldred (Mildred Breuer), Eileen Kerkvliet and Betty Schrers and a daughter-in-law Toni Doss.