LOIS A. GUSTAFSON, 83, a resident of Burlington, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 18, 2004 at the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, surrounded by her family.
She was born on December 31, 1920, in St. Maries, Idaho, to Freddie R. and Esther L. Martin Engelhart. She moved to Ballard when she was a young girl. It was there she met her future husband, Robert Bob Gustafson, as they were next-door neighbors since the age of 5. She married her childhood sweetheart on June 8, 1940 in Seattle. They raised their family of four children in Seattle, moved to Whidbey Island to own and operate a fishing resort, and finally settled in Burlington in 1957. Bob and Lois enjoyed summers at Lake McMurray for the past 25 years and volunteered in Burlington’s Crime Watch Program for 15 years.
Lois was a simple woman in her later years, and it didn’t take more than a good Mariners game or a bad one, some good fishing on Lake McMurray as long as she caught more and bigger fish than Bob, or a good game of cards or Dominoes, as long as she won, and she always did to keep her happy. She enjoyed having her family around her. At one point she asked for grandkids and great-grandkids; she got 14 great-grandkids in 9 years!
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert E., and daughter, Marilyn at the family home in Burlington, and daughters, Gailyn Ploeg and her husband Ron and Bobbi Lomsdalen and her husband Chub, all of Bow. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Matt and Shawn Wright of Lynnwood; Maury Wright, and Robbie and Austin Wright of Burlington; Monte and Jami Wright and Skyler and Brandon Wright of Burlington; Heidi and Brian West and Amanda, Lauren and Patrick West of Phoenix, Arizona; Rob and Shanna Gustafson and Mayia and Cooper Gustafson of Palmer, Alaska; April and Doug Pell and Makenzie, Caitlyn and Karsen Pell of Burlington; Molli and Kevin Allen and Alexander and Jacob Allen of Bow; and Brian and Krissa Lomsdalen of Hanford, California.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Dennis, brother Verne, and by coincidence entered heaven the same day as her brother, Richard Engelhart, of Yakima, who also passed away on January 18th. As a wife and best friend, mom, grandma and great-grandma, Lois will be greatly missed.
Memorials are suggested to the Burlington Lutheran Church at 134 E. Victoria Ave., Burlington, WA 98233 or the Burlington Volunteer Fire Dept. at 350 Sharon St., Burlington, WA 98233.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 23, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Burlington Lutheran Church. Pastor Richard Grinstad and Pastor Mary Bosell officiating. Interment will follow at the Bow Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, January 22nd from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Lois and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com Arrangements under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
I came a across this write up while trying to connect with other family. Grandma Lois was the true matriarch of our family and a guiding force in my life that has taught me to treat others as I wanted to be treated and not to show favoritism towards anyone but your spouse.
All my love Grandma,
Rob