Lois Carlson Worst, 81

Lois Carlson Worst, 81, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away peacefully Oct. 30, 2025, at Life Care Center of Post Falls, surrounded by her loving family. 

Renowned for her infectious spirit, adventurous heart and devotion to family and community, Lois filled her life with joy, laughter and deep connections. A masterful cook, she quipped about fulfilling her Coeur d’Alene High School yearbook goal —  “To become the Worst One” — by marrying her sweetheart, Jim Worst, on Nov. 19, 1962, that fall after her 1962 graduation. Their 63-year marriage anchored her remarkable journey.

Born on Oct. 21, 1944, in Indianola, Iowa, Lois moved to the Coeur d’Alene area as a teenager and became a North Idaho resident. She attended the University of Idaho in Moscow before brief stints in the Northwest, returning home in 1968.

With Jim, Lois built and nurtured the family business, R.C. Worst & Company, for decades before retiring in 1996. Retirement unleashed their wanderlust: winters in the sunny South, summers immersed in the great outdoors. After her 50th birthday in 1994, Lois discovered a profound passion for hiking that would define her later years, transforming forested trails and mountain paths into sacred spaces of reflection and renewal. Together, they wore out countless pairs of hiking boots on epic journeys, conquering hikes spanning up to 80 miles, each step a testament to their unyielding curiosity and unbreakable bond. Her greatest joy, however, remained with her four grandchildren, crafting enduring memories amid the wild beauty they both cherished.

Intrepid travelers, Lois and Jim visited every U.S. state and globetrotted to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Rome, Costa Rica and Canada. She cherished watching Coeur d’Alene’s growth while treasuring its community roots.

At her 40th high school reunion in 2002, Lois reflected: “Life has been good together ... We enjoy traveling, hiking, backpacking, photography, gardening, and, most of all, spending time with our grandkids ... We love this area and find that more and more other folks feel the same way as we watch it grow by leaps and bounds.” 

Lois is survived by her husband, Jim; sons Ken of Worley and Allen (Kerry) of Post Falls, who lead the third-generation family business; grandchildren Christopher, Mackenzie, Courtney and Madison; and sisters Judy Fisher, Shirley Morris and Tina.

Lois leaves a legacy of love, resilience, and embracing every adventure. Deeply missed, forever remembered.