Doris Labat age 84 of Sleepy Eye, formerly of Milroy and Marshall, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Sleepy Eye Care Center.  Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the church.  Interment is in the church cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Doris M. (VanOverbeke) Labat was born June 29, 1929 near Ghent, Minnesota to Arthur and Josephine (Jennen) VanOverbeke.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.  She attended Cottonwood Public Schools, graduating in 1947.  Doris went on to practice nursing at the Tracy Hospital.  On August 23, 1950, Doris was united in marriage to John P. Labat at St. Clotilde’s Catholic Church in Green Valley, Minnesota.  Together, Doris and John lived on the family farm in rural Milroy where they raised their family of seven children.  They enjoyed extensive travels throughout the United States and Europe where they visited relatives and located their parents’ birthplaces.  Doris was very involved and active with her children at school and community events.  Family was very important to her, and she helped care for her grandchildren which she enjoyed very much.  Not only was she a caregiver for her children and grandchildren, but also a variety of animals that were the family pets.  She always put others before herself.  Doris loved gardening, cooking, baking, and canning.  She was very active as a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church where she served with the CCW.  She was also part of the Legion Auxiliary and Extension Club.

Doris is survived by her children: Beverly (Ron) Petersen of Sleepy Eye, Dave (Jodi) Labat of Mesa, AZ, John J. (Lynn) Labat of Milroy, Julie (Alan) Macht of Marshall, Dan (Julie) Labat of Detroit Lakes, and Laurie (Jim) Allex of St. Cloud; 23 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her siblings: Vincent (Lucella) VanOverbeke, Ronald (Deloris) VanOverbeke, Audrey (George) Bakker, Marlen (Judy) VanOverbeke; and many other relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband John P. Labat, infant son Steven, brothers Francis VanOverbeke and James VanOverbeke, sister Phyllis Bot, and infant brother Jerome VanOverbeke.