Lois Evalene Ljungren

Lois was born August 28, 1925, at Church’s Ferry, Benson County, North Dakota, daughter of Isaac Book (I.B) Rohrer and Sarah McConnell Rohrer. She was the 8th child born to the family and she was the last living in the family.

She graduated from Central High School in Devils Lake, ND in 1943. She attended Valley City State Teacher’s College in Valley City, ND. It was there she met her husband Vernon who was in the Navy Officer’s Candidate School stationed at Valley City.

Vernon Ljungren and Lois were married in 1946 at White Bear Lake, Minnesota. After discharge from the Navy, Vern attended the University of Minnesota graduation with a Civil Engineering degree in 1948. Vern’s first job was with the Minnesota Highway Department with a big salary of $3,000 a year. Lois laid awake nights trying to figure out how to spend that much money!

Their first home was in Roseville, MN where all three children were born. Douglas in 1950, Sally in 1956 and Julie in 1959.

Lois was always active in her community and in local churches where they lived. She taught Sunday School and became Sunday School Superintendent. She assisted with Brownie and Girl Scout activities. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Became Regent of Cascade Chapter, Bellevue, WA of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Regent from 1976-1978.

She was a descendant of Abigail Hartman Rice for whom the Chapter in Washington D.C. was named. All members of this chapter were descended from Abigail Hartman Rice. Lois was always proud of her connection to Abigail Hartman Rice. During the Revolutionary War, Abigail helped restore health to the troops who had scarlet fever. Abigail also contracted scarlet fever and died. DAR honored her for her service and placed a plaque on her home in Pennsylvania.

Lois became interested in tracing her family genealogy and wrote a book about each of her ancestors—tracing it back to the country from which they came in Europe. Her books can be found in libraries where each family lived and, in the Salt Lake, Morman Library as well as the Smithsonian Library in Washington, D.C.

Lois was interested in all types of crafts. For years she knit baby garments for the premature ward at the University of Washington. She sewed for the Veterans Hospital in Seattle. After moving to Arizona, she knitted or crocheted for Phoenix Rescue Mission.

She always had a lot of spunk! She will surely be in charge of something in her next life. She was humble and modest with a sense of humor.

Vern and Lois made foreign trips abroad. She collected a doll from each country they visited. She also was an avid reader of history.

She was very interested in the Watergate proceedings during the Nixon years as President. She started what she called her Watergate Quilt. It was done in Crazy Quilt pattern with each block having the persons name embroidered on it that spent time in prison. She contacted the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. They accepted her quilt to have on display. Lois was pleased!

Vern and Lois celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996 and Vern passed away in 1998.

Lois eventually moved to El Dorado, an independent senior living facility in Sun City, AZ where she spent time playing cards and enjoying all the pleasures of senior living.

Her son Douglas lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Daughter Julie Cooper lives in San Clemente, CA and daughter Sally Johnson lives in Auburn, WA. There are 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Lois will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington beside her husband.