Amundson, Lois (Elder) 1936 - 2024

AMUNDSON, ELDER, WALKER, STEVENS, JOHNSON, KLEVE, WALTER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/29/2024 at 11:02:08

Lois Amundson, 88, of Lime Springs, IA passed away at the Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, IA March 18, 2024.

She was born January 3, 1936 to Robert and Lovina (Walker) Elder of the Bonair community. She attended rural schools of Howard County and graduated from Cresco High School in 1953. After spending several years doing secretarial work in Washington D.C. and Mason City, IA, she was married to Gerald Stevens on November 24, 1956. Together they raised three children: Suzanne, Paul and Wayne. They also operated a farm in Bonair, specializing in poultry until 1978, when they divorced. She moved to Texas and married Harlan Amundson October 9, 1981. There she worked in the dean’s office at East Texas State University for 5 years and at Raytheon in Greenville, TX for 10 years. After retiring in 1997, she and Harlan began spending the summer months on his farm near Cresco, IA. They spent the winter months in Pecan Gap, TX. In Pecan Gap, she enjoyed time with friends, attended game nights, went dancing and played piano at church.

Lois was interested in music and played piano in many venues, including local churches in Texas and Iowa. She sang in two women’s quartets: the Keynotes in the Cresco area and the Delta Jubilees in Texas. She enjoyed baking, especially yeast breads, pies and cinnamon rolls, and was featured in a national magazine in 1969 due to her success with this hobby. She also enjoyed playing games including cribbage and 500; fish and pheasant fry’s; and spending time with her family. Lois loved traveling and visited 25 different countries and most of the United States.

Lois continued to come to Iowa for the summer after Harlan’s death in 2004, and her friend, Bob Cadenhead, accompanied her for many years until his passing in 2017. After her permanent move to Iowa in 2018, she found joyful companionship with Lloyd Neubaur, of rural Lime Springs, IA.

She is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, two sisters, husbands Gerald Stevens and Harlan Amundson, son Wayne Stevens, stepson Keith Amundson and special friend Bob Cadenhead.

She is survived by her children: Suzanne (Glenn) Johnson (Tucson, AZ), Paul (Connie) Stevens (Cresco, IA) Grandchildren: Nicole (Curt) Kleve (Cresco, IA), Jordan Stevens (Ridgeway, IA), Jess (Abby) Stevens (Cresco, IA). Great-grandchildren: Roczen and Cayson Kleve (Cresco, IA). Step-children: Lynn Walter (Altoona, IA) and Neal Amundson (Mason City, IA).

Services will be held at the Cresco United Methodist Church on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 11:00am with visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will take place at a later date in Phillips Cemetery in rural Bonair, IA.