Funeral services for Lois Johnson age 86 of Firesteel, SD will be Wednesday 10:00 am at the United Parish in Timber Lake. Burial will be in the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. A prayers service will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM at the Church. Visitation begins at 6:00 PM Tuesday. Mrs. Johnson passed away Sunday, December 7, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Mobridge.

Lois Ellen Kratzer was born June 11, 1928 near Seville, Ohio to Albert and Laura (Fulton) Kratzer. She attended Westfield School system Leroy, Ohio graduating in 1946. Lois went on to attend the Bible School in Chicago for 2 years, an experience she treasured highly. Also at this time she worked for the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. She graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute in 1948. That summer she was invited to go to South Dakota to teach Bible school in the air parish. Lois spent 2 months teaching in the 4 churches in the flying parish. Ralph and Ruth Johnson had also attended the Bible School in Chicago so their home was her home base while she taught that summer. Also living with Ralph and Ruth was Ralph's younger brother Walter. This began a 65 year love story.

Walter and Lois were married in the Acme Lutheran Church, Seville, Ohio on October 7, 1949. They farmed in partnership with Ralph and Ruth for 30 years. Together Walt and Lois raised two sons, Kevin and Terry, and a daughter Laurel.

Lois was a member of Our Savior's Luther Church, which later became the Timber Lake United Parish. As a member of the Ladies Aid, Lois was part of the group of quilters who made many quilts for Lutheran World Relief over the years. She was also a teacher of Bible School and Sunday School throughout her life.

Lois loved music, she taught music at Fitzgerald country school, gave piano lessons to her own children, grandchildren, nieces, and neighborhood children. She sang or directed the choir at church throughout her life time and was the church pianist for many years. Lois provided the special music or played the piano for many different events.

Other organizations which she was involved in included the Sew Willing Extension club and the Timber Lake and Area Historical Society. She was co-editor and later, editor of the Historical Society Newsletter for a time.

Lois was a woman of many interests and talents. She loved knitting, sewing, painting, and her specialty quilting. Her children and grandchildren were the recipients of her beautiful hand-quilted quilts. She gardened, and loved her roses.

In her personal history, Lois concluded with this paragraph., "Through the many years of our marriage, we have always made a practice of family devotions. To take that little bit of time each morning to read scripture and put the events of the day in the hands of the Lord. Our activity in the church has helped bring meaning to our lives, and helped to stabilize the children in the volatile world. Many things will change but the Lord has promised that He will never change. Hallelujah-may the coming generations learn to know Him, serve Him, and know the fullness of joy that comes from Him alone. Amen-may it ever be so."

Lois is survived by her husband Walter Johnson; sons; Kevin (Margie) Johnson, Terry (Alyce) Johnson; a daughter Laurel (Gene) Reinbold; on sister; Carolyn (Don) Bougher; nine grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, six half sister, four half brothers, one grandchild, and one great grandchild.