Lois Marcinkoski

Lois passed away peacefully at home in Missoula on June 20, 2016. She was born June 15, 1937 in Scobey, Montana to Marie and Charles Seiler. Lois spent her entire life living in the state and enjoyed traveling to visit her family.
In 1956 Lois married Pat Marcinkowski in Glasgow, Montana and started a family. After living in various high line communities, an opportunity came in 1965 to move the family to Missoula. Pat and Lois resided for 46 years in their home on University Avenue where they raised eight children. Lois immersed herself in every aspect of her children’s lives. She volunteered at Saint Anthony’s school, became the 4-H Leader, band enthusiast, drama supporter, counselor and confidante. She served as PTA president for multiple schools, and of course, no sporting event in Missoula was complete without her distinctive and memorable cowbell. You can never have enough cowbell!
Her family soon blossomed by friends, friends of friends and strangers who became friends. Her efforts were tireless to make everyone feel at home and comfortable – so much so that her cadre, numbered by the dozens, consider her a surrogate mother.
Lois was a devout Catholic and very active in her church, Christ the King, for many years. She was a prayer warrior who could always be relied upon to raise requests to God, cook for church events, fundraise for the church and volunteer to be on the kitchen staff for more than 50 years of Cursillo weekend retreats.
Many people know Lois as “The Tax Lady," completely at home with the IRS and accounting principles. Lois cleared her dining room table during the tax season for more than 50 years. She looked forward to catching up with clients and sharing stories and pictures of her family.
When it was not tax season, it was seed collecting season. Lois generously split the proceeds among the kids who did the work. Her seeds were sold literally around the world and her reputation as the woman who can make money grow on trees was created.
While volunteering for the Telephone Pioneer service organization, Lois took the lead in Missoula to equip almost every school playground with a large painted map of the 50 states to raise awareness of geography in action. She was integral in providing these painted maps in both Montana and California.
In Lois’ free time, she worked for more than ten years as a volunteer sewing and distributing cuddly “Hug-a-Bears." These little bears provided comfort to young children traumatized during emergency room visits. Paramedics and hospitals in Missoula used the bears to calm and soothe distraught children.
Preceding Lois in death are her husband of nearly 60 years and her oldest daughter Patti. Lois is survived by her sisters Marlene Zinner and Sherryee Turner, two brothers Jim Seiler and Chuck Seiler, her son-in-law George of Darby, Montana; son Mark (Barbara) of Orlando, Florida; daughter Kathy (Jerry) of The Woodlands, Texas; daughter Paula (Paul) of Missoula; daughter Margo (Juan) of West Covina, California; daughter Francie (Jeremy) of Butte, Montana; son Mike (Amy) of Missoula; daughter Laura (Scott) of Highland, California; 15 grandchildren, their 5 spouses and 5 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Christ the King Parish, 1400 Gerald Ave., Missoula, Montana 59801.
A Rosary Vigil is being held at Christ the King Church on Friday, June 24 at 7:00 PM. The funeral mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Church on Saturday, June 25 at 11:00 AM. Graveside services will be held at the Montana Veterans Cemetery on Monday, June 27 at 10:00 AM.