Lois Cecelia Marks, 77, “went home to be with the Lord” on Oct. 7, 2015, from her earthly home in Somers, after a six-month battle with cancer.

Lois was born on Nov. 19, 1937, in Kalispell to Ray and Martha Larson Petersen. Lois grew up in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1955. After high school she attended two years of college at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, before she returned to Kalispell to work for an insurance agency. It was while working at the insurance agency that she met her future husband Edward “Ed” Leroy Marks who came into the office to discuss insurance.

Lois married Ed on Nov. 15, 1959, in Kalispell at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They were happily married for 47 years before Ed’s passing in 2007. They were blessed with three children, Julie, Roger and Russell. They lived near Whitefish the first six years of their marriage before building a home and a shop for their family-owned trucking business on U.S. 2 West in Kalispell in 1965. Lois served as office manager of their business. In 1988, they moved to Flathead Lake near Somers. Ed and Lois traveled through the Lower 48 states and Alaska in their motor homes and spent each winter in warmer climates in the Southern states. Lois continued this trend after Ed’s death in 2007 by spending each winter on Lake Havasu on the Arizona and California border.

Lois was a loving, caring and generous wife and mother who will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Lois was a member of the Lutheran Church. Throughout her life she attended Bethlehem Lutheran and Eidsvold Lutheran. She also enjoyed attending church at the Black Meadow Landing RV Park, which was her winter home since 2001. Lois enjoyed cooking, gardening and reading at her home on Flathead Lake. She even planted flowers during her last summer at the lake. She loved to prepare meals for her family and friends. With her friends at the RV park, she enjoyed activities such as playing cards and line dancing. One of her favorite charitable events was the Helping Hands Group, which helped out those in need at Christmas. Throughout the years, Lois enjoyed and supported her children’s and grandchildren’s games and activities.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Martha Petersen; her husband, Ed Marks; her sister, Donna Petersen Whitney; and her infant sister, Beverly.

Lois is survived by her daughter, Julie, and husband Tim Wood, of Nolensville, Tennessee; sons, Roger and Jodi Marks of Spokane Valley, Washington, and Russell and Rhonda Marks of Helena; her grandchildren, Andrew “Andy” Wood of Nashville, Tennessee, Zachary “Zack” Marks of Auburn, Washington, Sydney, Zoey and Maddie Marks of Spokane Valley, and Tiffany and Tanner Marks of Helena; and her nephews, Dirk, Gary and Neal Whitney, and several other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 15 at Eidsvold Lutheran Church, 5935 Highway 93 S., Somers, MT 59932. A reception will follow.

The family suggests memorials or donations be made in Lois’s name to Eidsvold Lutheran Church at the address listed above or to a charity of your choice.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Lois’s family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign the guest book.