LOIS M. WILLIAMS

Lois Marie Williams, née Everett, born May 3, 1931, died May 24, 2024. She was born in Chicago, IL and passed in Washington DC.

Lois was born to Charles and Teresa Everett. Charles was a high school drafting teacher. Teresa was a home maker. Lois’ older brother was Charles and her younger brother was Gaylord. She told stories of a happy childhood in the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago. As her dad had summers off, she spent them with her family in northern Wisconsin at Moose Lake. Her family and other relatives and friends had lots around the lake. They started off in tents, but eventually built summer homes. The “cabin” at Moose Lake held a special place in her heart.

Lois completed her university studies at Illinois Institute of Technology on June 12, 1953 with a bachelor of science in home economics. Her first job was in Worthington, MN at the Dept of Ag extension office. There she joined the Circle K social club where she met many friends, and eventually, her future husband, Joseph Roscoe Williams. They married on October 12, 1957.

They started their family on a farm one mile north of Avoca, MN, in 1958 when Joseph, Jr was born. They had six more children: Richard, Patrcia, Sharon, David, Stephen, and Julie.

Lois worked many years as a home economics teacher at the Chandler-Lake Wilson high school. She retired from there in the late 1980s. She then lived several years in Nebraska to be near her son Rick and his family. She loved having her grandchildren over to entertain. She also was a great source of support to new family members who had just arrived in the country to study.

After Rick’s kids grew old to enough to entertain themselves, she moved to Westbrook, MN, where she fell back into the circle of friends she had known for 40 years. She took trips to warm climates with them during the winter months some years. In other winters, they just consoled one another that spring was coming.

She spent several years in the 2010s in Washington DC to be near her son Steve’s and daughter Julie’s families. Eventually she moved back to Westbrook, where she still had family, son Joe and daughter Pat, and friends. She enjoyed taking part in the activities in town, swimming at the Fulda pool, and visiting with the good people she knew or would meet.

Lois moved to Washington DC in 2021 to be near Steve and Julie. In these years she spent time going to the many museums in Washington and taking trips to the countryside, often to visit a winery with her children. In her last years, as old age took its toll, she was limited to taking walks up and down the block, but she still joyfully greeted any passersby on the sidewalk.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, her former husband Joe, and her son David. She was fruitful and multiplied, her seven children had 21 grandchildren for her, and as of death they have had 16 great grandchildren.

Lois was a Christian who always looked to her faith on how to conduct her life. In a notebook (she filled many notebooks with recipes, notes from the Scriptures, and reminders) she wrote something like: Death is when we are welcomed by our loved ones and Jesus into Heaven. There is much joy in seeing those we have missed for so long and to be in the peace of the Lord. It is something to look forward to.

Lois will be interred in Kinbrae cemetery on Saturday, August 10 at 10 am. Her children will gather at the Painted Prairie Vineyard near Currie to honor and share memories of Lois at 12 pm. All are welcome to attend.