Wanda Lee Walker lived her life with a charitable joy that was contagious, a faith that inspired others, and a love that created lifelong connections. Surrounded by her family, she passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society, Miller Pointe in Mandan.

Wanda was born on December 29, 1937, in Mott, North Dakota, and raised in both Mott and Bismarck. She grew up in a large family with four sisters and three brothers, relationships she treasured throughout her life. She shared a deep bond with her parents, William and Lillian Walker, whose love and faith became the foundation of her life.

A lifelong learner, Wanda believed in the power of education. She earned a Teachers’ Certificate at Minot State College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary College, a Masters of Arts from Regis College, a Masters in Education in Marriage and Family Counseling from NDSU, and finally, ultimately fulfilled her dream of earning a Doctorate of Ministry in Creation Spirituality from Wisdom University in Oakland, CA. Dr. Wanda Walker believed knowledge was meant to be shared, and spent her life encouraging others to grow in wisdom, understanding, and faith.

Wanda married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Doppler, beginning a remarkable partnership that spanned a lifetime. Together they built a home centered on love, laughter, faith, and family. They had six children in just ten years. Her children were her greatest pride, and she worked tirelessly to ensure each one knew they were deeply loved, uniquely gifted, and capable of making a difference in the world.

Wanda and Dennis had a love story of their own. After twenty-nine years of marriage they divorced. Complex circumstances caused difficulties with their relationship. After being apart for sixteen years they found their way back to each other and were remarried. They were blessed to be able to spend the last twenty-three years together.

Her professional life was focused on helping others. Wanda taught in the classroom, helped establish one of North Dakota’s first Head Start programs in Kenmare, served as the Retired Senior Volunteer Coordinator for the elderly, worked as Associate Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Bismarck, and counseled college students and families. Wherever she served she offered encouragement, hope, and a belief in the dignity and worth of every person.

Wanda lived her faith. She found great joy in bringing people together to pray, learn, celebrate, and care for one another. Through Marriage Encounter, Christian Family Movement, parish ministry, and religious education, she helped strengthen families and communities. Her devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and her deep trust in God shaped every chapter of her life, providing strength in difficult times and happiness in the ordinary moments. Wherever Wanda went she had the remarkable ability to make every person she met feel important, heard, and loved. When confronted with challenges on her journey, she fiercely took them on going to depths many would have denied or dissociated from. She had the tenacity (bold, courageous, maybe reckless) to endeavor, learn and fight on the edges. In time she allowed the help from her village creating multiple iterations of rebuilding and on to the next horizon; which the poet John O’Donoghue taught her are perpetual into the beyond.

She also loved thoughtful conversation and remained deeply engaged in the world around her. She followed current events closely, enjoyed discussing politics, and was a proud supporter of the Democratic Party, having reminded one of her children late in her journey that LOVE was “My bottom line.” She believed every person had both the opportunity and the responsibility to help make the world a better place.

Her homes were filled with laughter, prayer, beauty and unconditional love. It was not uncommon for there to be guests staying sometimes for more than a weekend. Holidays became treasured reunions, birthdays were celebrated with enthusiasm notwithstanding very limited resources at times, and ordinary afternoons often turned into extraordinary memory making.

She delighted in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, celebrating each milestone as though it were her own. She remembered that the little things mattered, offered encouragement when it was needed most, and found genuine joy in the success and happiness of others. Whether through a thoughtful conversation, a handwritten note, a warm hug, a heartfelt prayer, or simply her reassuring presence, Wanda had a gift for making people believe in themselves. Her humanity went at times past her own resources, doing so undaunted to meet the needs. Her children and grandchildren knew they always had someone who would listen without judgment, love without condition, and pray without ceasing.

Her greatest legacy lives on in the people she loved. Every act of kindness, every lesson shared, every prayer offered, and every life she encouraged carries forward the light she brought into the world. Though she has entered God’s eternal embrace, the joy, faith, and love she gave so freely will continue to shape generations to come.

Wanda is survived by her beloved husband and high school sweetheart, Dennis Doppler; her six children: Marques (Tina) Doppler, Mary Jane Reiss, Ruth (Ken) Morgan, Matthew (Jill) Doppler, John (Tami) Doppler, and Tim Doppler; her fourteen grandchildren: Lucas, Lance, Lacy, Rockie, Nick, Emma, Denny, Lydia, Grace, Liza, Maya, Ashley, Tate, and Anthony; her thirteen great-grandchildren: Bentley, Veyda, Mason, Brooklyn, Ryder, Zoey, Harlee, Brody, Lily, Noah, Lincoln, Layla, and Koda; her sisters, Zonie Easton and Dorothy Walker (Jim Mowbray); and her brothers-in-law, Kenny Doppler and Billy (Mary) Doppler, and treasured nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Lillian Walker; her brothers, Robert James, Billy Jack and David Walker; her sisters, Frances Reinehr and Mary Walker; her nephew, Danny Reinehr; and her niece, Dede Carpenter, her brothers-in-law Mike (Mary) Doppler, Etienne (Claudette) Doppler, and John (Marti) Doppler.

A Celebration of Wanda's Life will be held on Thursday, August 13, at 1:00PM, with a reception to follow at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave., Bismarck, ND. Visitation will be held one hour prior. The burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family.