Lois Lawson, 83

Lois was born Jan. 28, 1943, in Kellogg, Idaho, to Evelyn and Alby Gulman. 

After graduating from Kellogg High School in 1961, she attended Kelsey-Baird Secretarial School in Spokane and became a legal secretary. In 1971, she divorced her first husband and moved back to Kellogg with two small children, Cory and Lori. She was then hired as the mine secretary for the Bunker Hill Company, where she met a young mining engineer whom she married in 1972. From then on, the family was on the move, tramping from one mine or mining project to another. Along the way, they introduced two more children, Beth and Alex. Their adventures took them to many locations, including Idaho, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Montana, New Zealand, Canada, Nevada, California (unfortunately) and finally Arizona, having stopped long enough in Big Timber, Mont., to raise the kids and get them out of high school.  

Lois was a stay-at-home mom throughout the moves. She most enjoyed golf, sewing and bridge; but over the past 20 years, she also enjoyed cooking, listening to 50's rock & roll and patiently watching Mel collect too many things. The rigors of Lyme disease and ultimately severe rheumatoid arthritis took their evil toll on her body (both feet rebuilt, both knees replaced, and one shoulder replaced). To top it off, she also had a mastectomy but never lost her spirit, love of crossword puzzles, and caring for others. 

Lois is survived by her husband of 53 years, Mel; her children: Cory Cole, Ellensberg, Wash.; Lorinda (John - deceased) Raisler, Kinsey, Mont.; Elizabeth (Kel) Ritchie, Nelson, New Zealand; Alex (Paula) Lawson, Taupo, New Zealand; 9 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Louis.

Her ashes will be dispersed in her special place in North Idaho. No services are planned and please send no flowers.