meta World Dairy Expo’s founding mother, Doris Hetts, passes :: The Bullvine - The Dairy Information You Want To Know When You Need It

World Dairy Expo’s founding mother, Doris Hetts, passes


You’ve heard of the Founding Fathers. They are the men referred to were those who attended the Continental Congress meetings and signed the Declaration of Independence.  Every great achievement or organization needs those who had the vision got it all started.  This is also true for the establishment of The World Dairy Expo.  Allen Hetts is considered by many to be the founding father of Expo, but it would not have been possible without the support of his wife Doris, the founding mother of World Dairy Expo, having been Allen’s first and biggest supporter and one of the few to attend all 50 years.  Doris is no doubt the founding mother of World Dairy Expo, a term coined by Hoard’s dairyman.  This past weekend Doris passed away.

Doris was the Salutatorian for her High School graduating class in 1940. After high school, she worked for James Manufacturing as a receptionist-switchboard operator. She was then the Secretary for the Wisconsin Dairymen’s Association for four years before marrying her high school sweetheart, Allen C. Hetts on June 30, 1945 and coming to Crescent Beauty Farm.

Along with raising five children and keeping a beautiful farmstead, Doris’ activities were many and varied. She was a lifelong member of St. John’s Community Church serving as Secretary for the Ladies Aid Society for many years. She was also a member of both the State and National Holstein Associations and served as a delegate to the National Convention. Doris spent countless hours volunteering at the National Dairy Shrine Museum, Fort Atkinson Hospital, American Red Cross and The Nearly New Thrift Shop, just to name a few.

Doris prided herself on being an incredibly hard and dedicated worker; along with the usual chores of a farm wife and mother, she handled all of Allen’s correspondence, advertising, and promotional materials necessary for their business. Upon Allen’s untimely death in 1973, Doris continued to run, manage and support one of the most successful dairy operations in the state of Wisconsin alongside sons, Roy and Rodney until 1988 when the Crescent Beauty Heard was dispersed. In 1985 she was honored at the World Dairy Expo being named “National Dairy Woman of the Year” something she treasured and took great pride in.

Doris was known as “Mom” to over 40 Japanese trainees that came to Crescent Beauty Farms to work and learn farming and the dairy industry in the United States. Over the years she has made 7 trips back to Japan to further support and represent Crescent Beauty Farms and also visit her Japanese “Family”.

Doris will be deeply missed by her children Randy (Timothy) Connery of Cottage Grove, Rhonda Shore of Sun Prairie, Roy (Karen) Hetts of Fort Atkinson, Renee (Jack) Beilke of Sun Prairie, and Rodney (Kelli) Hetts of Fort Atkinson. She is also survived by her brother Carroll (Jean) Trieloff of Fort Atkinson. Doris was the proud Grandmother of 10, and Great Grandmother of 6. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Allen, infant son Ralph Lee and Sister Lurline Borchardt.

A celebration of Doris’ life will be held on May 20th at St. John’s Community Church in Fort Atkinson. Visitation will be held from 9:30am until the time of service at 11:30am.

Those who wish to offer an expression of sympathy please consider directing memorials to St. John’s Community Church or the Rainbow Hospice Foundation in Johnson Creek.

The Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.


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