Lois L. Van Fossen

- Lois Louise (Evans) Van Fossen, 91, of Missoula, passed away peacefully Monday, July 20, 2015, at her home at the Village Senior Residence after a courageous battle with cancer.

Lois was born May 22, 1924, in Roundup to Clinton and Eva Evans and grew up in Lavina and Alberton. Her childhood was impacted by the Great Depression, a time that shaped her thrifty sensibility and independent attitude. She was willing to go where few women had gone before, so, inspired by a sense of patriotism, in 1944 she joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). While stationed at Farragut Naval Training Station in northern Idaho, she met "Van," a handsome young sailor who would become her lifelong love. The couple married on Feb. 19, 1946, in Seattle.

When World War II ended, the couple moved to Montana, and eventually settled in Anaconda, where they lived 22 years and raised their three children. Lois was a groundbreaking working mom, and served as a medical records librarian at Galen State Hospital for 11 years, and later in a variety of clerical and secretarial positions in Darby and Hamilton until retiring to Missoula.

Lois was an avid bowler, loved gardening and was always surrounded by blooming flowers. She followed the accomplishments of her grandchildren with passion and was an enthusiastic regular in the bleachers at Hellgate High School sporting events. Lois was a follower of Christ and an ardent student of the Bible. She was an active, longtime member of the Lolo Community Church family and was immensely grateful for the care of that community during her illness. As a resident at The Village Senior Residence, Lois was active and engaged in a wide variety of activities, and developed many close and loving friendships there. In 2013, in recognition of her military service, Lois took part in Montana's sixth Big Sky Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Clarence in 2008, and her sister, Hazel (Evans) Blodgett. She is survived by her three children, Cmdr. Jane Van Fossen (USN, retired) of Missoula, Jim Van Fossen and wife Jan of Missoula and Drew Van Fossen and wife Kathleen of De Pere, Wis.; grandchildren, Ashleigh Van Fossen of Missoula, Adam Van Fossen and wife May of Concord, Calif., Capt. Conner Van Fossen (USAF) and wife Melissa, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Joel Van Fossen of De Pere, Wis.; step-grandson, Larry Burke of Missoula and great-granddaughter Vivian Van Fossen of Concord, Calif.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory, with a reception following. Interment will take place at the Western Montana Veteran's Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Camp Utmost, in care of Rocky Mountain Bible Mission, 1515 Fairview Ave., Suite 200, Missoula, MT 59801.
Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com


Read Lois Van Fossen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.