Lois Scudder

September 21, 1933 - September 17, 2018

Lois Mae Scudder, age 84, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Jefferson, IA, on Monday, September 17, 2018. Lois Mae Grigsby Scudder, the daughter of Roland and Clara (Moriarty) Grigsby was born on September 21, 1933, in Sioux Rapids, IA. She was raised and received her education in the Sioux Rapids and Storm Lake, IA, areas, graduating in 1951 from the Storm Lake High School, in the top 10 of her class. In the mid 1970’s, Lois entered the nursing program at Western Iowa Technical Community College in Cherokee, IA, receiving her LPN degree. In 1951, Lois was united in marriage to Harold T. Smith, Jr., in Jackson, MN. To this union 6 children were born: Stephen, Michael, Mary Jane, Russell, Amy, and Lisa. During this period, Lois raised her children, worked in a nursing home, was an active member of the PTA where she served as president, served as a den mother to a local cub scout troop, and helped with various school events her children were involved in. The couple divorced in 1967. The family then moved to Sioux Rapids for 1 year, to Epworth, IA, for 1 year, and then in 1969 settled on a small farm north of Park Rapids, MN, where they proceeded to build a house, and Lois took charge of the building project. She enjoyed creating things, changing things up, and was always in the middle of some sort of home remodeling or redecorating. During this period, she worked in the pharmacy at the local drugstore, tended to the farm helping plant and harvest crops, milk cows, and continued to raise her children. The family moved back to Sioux Rapids, IA, in 1975, where they purchased an acreage, and another large remodeling project began. During this period, Lois attended and graduated from nursing school. She worked as a nurse at the Sioux Care Center in Sioux Rapids, IA. She enjoyed the many family gatherings held at the acreage. In 1980, Lois met Charles Eugene “Gene” Scudder. The couple married on January 2, 1981, in Las Vegas, NV. She continued to work in the nursing field. Several moves followed as her husband’s job with the Federal Aviation Administration took them to Watertown, SD; Eau Claire, WI; and finally, in 1992, to Rolla, MO. The couple enjoyed their time in Rolla where they purchased a lovely home. Late in 1999, they moved to Colorado so her husband, Gene, could be closer to his sons. They resided in Limon, CO, until November of 2016, at which time they returned to their home State of Iowa choosing Jefferson as their final place to call home. In her younger years, Lois enjoyed country music and dancing, project renovations, sewing, reading, wine making, playing Scrabble, a good rousing game of cards, especially cribbage and Pinochle, and raising a garden planting both vegetables and flowers. She always planted a large vegetable garden and canned many jars of produce over the years. She enjoyed crocheting, and completed many projects. She was a great cook, did lots of baking, and always enjoyed a good cup of hot coffee accompanied by lively conversation. Later in life, she enjoyed traveling, trips to the casinos in Nevada on a regular basis, and watching the tennis and golf channels with her husband. Both were well versed on the athletes in both sports. Lois was a frugal woman, and lived by one of her favorite sayings, “Want what you have, not what you don’t.” She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gene, on August 30, 2018; brothers Allen Grigsby and Roger Grigsby; sons-in-law James Fuller and Guy Stevens; and granddaughter, Stacy Todd. She is survived by her children: Stephen (Toka) Smith of Freeland, WA; Michael (Barbara) Smith of Rolla, MO; Mary Jane Stevens of Gering, NE; Russell Smith of Norwalk, IA; Amy (Steven) Jessen of Linn Grove, IA; Lisa Fuller of Algona, IA; her grandchildren and great grandchildren; sister Karen (Ronald) Jurgens of Hull, IA; 3 step-children, Thomas Scudder of Colorado Springs, CO; Kristin (David) Elizondo of Minneapolis, MN; and Michael (Carolyn) Scudder of Westminster, CO; other relatives and friends. Celebrate her life! Blessed be the memory of Lois Scudder! John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.!