Lois E. Dawes

Lois Dawes, 99, of La Crescent, MN, passed away July 6, 2019 at SpringBrook Village, where she resided for the last eighteen months.

She was born April, 17, 1920, at the home farm in Long Coulee, rural Holmen, WI, to Ansel and Wilda (Skogen) Bratberg. After graduating from Holmen High School, Lois continued her education at
La Crosse Normal School (UW-La Crosse) completing a two-year certificate to teach in rural Wisconsin schools. She taught at several area schools until 1947. During this time Lois met and married Wm. (Bill) Dawes on Sept. 1, 1943 and they moved to La Crescent, MN in 1948. She went back to La Crosse State Teachers College and graduated in 1960 with a BS degree in Education. She then taught fourth grade, mostly science, for 25 years at La Crescent Elementary.

Lois was an active person. In her early years in La Crescent she led Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, taught Sunday school, went camping on family vacations and loved dancing. She learned to play golf and Bridge, and tended to her large vegetable and flower gardens. Lois also belonged to and participated in various teacher organizations, Eastern Star and the American Legion Auxiliary.

When Lois and Bill retired they headed south for the winter – staying in the Gulfport, MS area and later in the Mc Allen, TX area, where Lois spent most of her time playing golf, swimming and learning to oil paint.

Some of Lois’ greatest joys were spending time with her grandchildren, the Wednesday morning coffee group that met for over 50 years and the Tuesday morning women’s golf league at Valley High Golf Course. In her 80’s she traveled to Spain with her sister Irma and to Puerto Rico and Hawaii with her granddaughter Lisa. She was still golfing and swimming at the YMCA into her 90’s.

Lois is survived by two children, five grandchildren, one step grandchild, two great grandchildren, two step-great grandchildren, three great -great grandchildren: daughter Vicki (Al) Schroeder and their children Jake (Joanne) Kibler, Karisa Doucet, Becky (Doug) Danielsen; son Geoffery (Jeanne) Dawes, and their children Sara (Blake) Peters, Neal Dawes, and Lisa Dawes; great grandchildren; Ivy Dahlquist, Caden Bassett, step-great grandchildren Nora and Will Danielson; great great grandchildren Kobey, Kylie, and Ava Bell. She is further survived by sisters Irma Jean Daniels, Elvah (Robert) Ristinen sister-in-law Garnet Bratberg, long- time family friend Sue Weaver, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Wm. (Bill) Dawes, son Bill Dawes, son-in-law Donald Kibler, sisters Viola (Jim) Bolton and Pauline (Gordon) Van Dunk, brothers A. Burton Bratberg, Wayne Bratberg, and nephews Alan Bratberg and Bill Daniels.

The family would like to thank Ginny Dockweiler, Mary Wieser, and Gloria Freese for graciously including mom in swimming, golfing, and bus trips. The family would also like to thank Heartland Hospice, especially Aubrey and those on SpringBrook staff who gave our mother loving care.

On Saturday, July 27, 2019 a memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm at the La Crescent Area Events Center, 595 Veterans Way, La Crescent, MN. A Celebration of Life will follow the memorial service at the Events Center from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. Visitation will be 12:30 pm-1:00 pm prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the ISD 300 Foundation or a charity of your choice.