Lois Jean Iwen Obituary (1922

A part of Lois's heart has always been tied to Arthur, North Dakota, where she was born on October 14, 1922. Her children could only know of her early years through the stories she told: of her twin brother, Lyle, and sisters, Evelyn and Isabel; of the years during her childhood when she lived with her grandparents; of her dear Auntie Edna and cousins, Phyllis and Karen. She told stories about playing high school basketball, barn dances, teaching in a one-room school house, and falling in love with Harry Iwen, who she married on June 9, 1946. Lois had to give up teaching the year after her wedding because, back then, you weren't allowed to teach when you were pregnant, and she and Harry didn't waste any time starting a family. Sharon was born in April, 1947, Kathy joined the family in October 1950, and Bill came along in July 1954. These years brought stories of Sharon loving all the animals, Kathy loving all her dolls, and Bill hiding on top of the outhouse. It could not have been an easy decision to leave farming and loved ones to move the family to Seattle in 1959, but Lois and Harry sought a more financially secure future for their children than North Dakota offered at the time. The family eventually settled into a close-knit neighborhood in Riverton Heights. Harry worked swing shift at Jorgenson Steel, and Lois was a full-time homemaker. Summer was always full of weekend camping trips, and, after the kids grew up, most of those weekends were spent camping with family and close friends at Sharon and Lonnie's property in Kingston, Washington. Over the years, grandchildren were born, and Lois loved taking care of them, not just now and then, but regularly while their parents worked. She never seemed happier than when she was with little ones. Eventually, after retirement, Lois and Harry built their first brand new home. The process was an exciting adventure for them, and, true to their North Dakota roots, even though they built in the waterfront town of Kingston, the house has a barn-like architecture. They enjoyed gardening, the senior center, the beauty of Puget Sound from their living room window, and hosting family gatherings, especially on Christmas and the 4th of July when the raspberries were ripe. Harry and Lois lived together in Kingston until Harry's death in 1995. Lois moved to Des Moines, Washington, in 1996, living for five years with Bill and Deborah, and then nine years at Judson Park, a continuing care retirement community. Lois leaves behind the family to whom she devoted her life: daughters Sharon Nuss (Lonnie) and Kathy Bailey (Rodger, deceased); son Bill Iwen (Deborah); grandchildren Kristin Davis (Aaron), Aaron Nuss (Katie), Ben Iwen (Darcy), Jake Iwen (Andi), and John Price (Amy); and extended family in Washington, North Dakota, and Minnesota. She also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren who will miss the joyous smile that broke out on great-grandma's face every time she saw them. If you wish, memorials may be made to your favorite charity or to Judson Park Scholarship Fund: Judson Park, Attention Terri Muir, 23600 Marine View Dr. S., Des Moines, WA 98198.