Lois Camella Weseloh

Lois Weseloh, 91, of Redwood Falls, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 from St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. Burial will take place at the English Lutheran Cemetery in Cottonwood. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 until 11 a.m.

Memorials are preferred to the St. John’s School special projects.

Arrangements are with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com .

Lois Camella Johnson, the daughter of Joseph and Bertha (Brudvig) Johnson, was born and baptized at home in Verndale, Minnesota on August 30, 1921. She confirmed her baptismal faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior on June 9, 1933 at the First Lutheran Church in Staples, Minnesota.

Following her high school graduation, Lois attended Teacher’s Training School. She then taught first through fourth grades at the country school in Fairhaven, Minnesota, where she met future husband, Gerhard Herbert Weseloh.

On July 4, 1941, Lois and Gerhard married in Cherryville, Oregon. Their wedding day events included a hike up Mt. Hood with the wedding party and family for a rollicking round of snowball throwing.
After the army drafted her husband in the fall of 1942, Lois and their baby daughter, Ellen, stayed with family and friends. The Lord returned Gerhard to her in 1945, and they lived in South Haven, Minnesota until God called Gerhard to enter Bethany Lutheran Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota in 1953. During the “seminary years,” Lois remained a busy mom (five daughters, one son) and teacher. Upon her husband’s 1958 seminary graduation, they moved to Cottonwood, Minnesota, where her husband served as minister for the English Lutheran congregation. God blessed the happy couple with the birth of their youngest daughter. Besides raising her seven children, Gerhard’s wife used her talents to serve her Lord playing organ, directing choir, teaching Sunday school and participating in ladies’ organizations. After her husband’s death, Lois returned to teaching elementary education and received both a bachelor and a master’s degree in special education. In 1974 the family moved to Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where Lois taught children with learning disabilities until her retirement in 1986.
Lois filled her retirement years with many happy family events and activities. She loved to play piano (self-taught), crochet, sew, paint, complete countless New York Times crossword puzzle books, and read ardently. This avid bowler won many bowling tournaments and trophies until she retired her bowling ball at age 89. She enjoyed many family vacations to Hawaii, Florida, and Arizona, as well as yearly visits to see her sister in Wenatchee, Washington. Lois visited Massachusetts annually to celebrate her favorite holiday, the 4th of July, with her daughter, son-in-law and an ever-increasing circle of Boston friends. She also volunteered as a teacher’s assistant at St. John’s school, attended retired teachers’ luncheons and events, and eagerly anticipated daily visits with her many friends of all ages.

Of all Lois’ activities and interests, her greatest love was for her Lord. This devout Christian woman eagerly looked forward to weekly church services and Bible study groups.

Our loving Savior called this faithful servant, Lois, to her heavenly home on Saturday, March 9, 2013 after attaining the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 10 days.

Lois’ surviving children include Ellen Loe of Marshall, MN; Linda (Elmo) Dahl of Alexandria, MN; Barry Weseloh of Fort Ripley, MN; Debra Ann (Thomas) Fox of Burlington, MA; Kathy (David) Thiel of Fort Ripley, MN; and Vicki (Randy) Rankin of Lincoln, NE; 11 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Bertha and Joseph; her beloved husband Gerhard; her daughter Patty Jo Weseloh; her son-in-law Harold Loe; her brothers Tilford, Noral, Milton, Robert and James Johnson and sisters Christine Sampson, Mildred Riedel, Esther Aasen and Lillian Holst. Blessed be her memory.

All Glory to God!