Lois Weidkamp

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Lois Fay (Olin) Weidkamp of Lynden went peacefully to heaven on Sept. 23, 2016. She was 95 years old.

Lois was born March 19, 1921 to Oscar Olin and Ellen (Handy) Olin in Nooksack. She joined brother Vernon (Shorty) Olin and Melberne Van Huis. Lois had a baby sister Beth Elbrecht one year later. She completed high school at Lynden with a brother and a sister in 1939. Lois played the saxophone in the Lynden High School band. It was in high school Lois met Vernon and they married Oct. 14, 1939 in Lynden at Vernon’s brother’s home. Married 76 years, they lived most of their married life, over 50 years, on a dairy farm on the Weidkamp Road just a short distance from Vernon’s family homestead.

Lois was a true homemaker who loved and cared for her six children and helped with everything on the farm. Vernon had a full-time job in Lynden, so many farm responsibilities were left to Lois as well. She could stretch a meal further than anyone else we knew, with food to feed all relatives and friends who came to visit. Also a wonderful baker, there was always dessert after chores were done. A loving and dedicated wife, Lois supported Vernon when and wherever he was playing music.

Active in her community, Lois was a member of the Sunrise Baptist Church, Clamdiggers, Rebekah Lodge, Lynden Senior Center and the Delta Grange. Her hobbies included drawing floorplans/blueprints of homes and reading.

Preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, of 76 years; her parents and three siblings; Lois was blessed with a wonderful family and is survived by children Shirley (Jim deceased) Allen, Joyce (Gary) Huisman, Beth (Jim) Price, Bob (Karen) Weidkamp, Jean (Richard deceased) Francisco and Darlene (Dan) Hornbeck; sister-in-law Lillian King; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Endeared to her family, Lois loved babies, with six of her own. She had 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren (with two more on the way).

Lois’ family wishes to thank the staff at Lynden Christian Health Care Center, Lynden Manor and Dr. Steven Alexander for their compassionate care.

Graveside services at Greenacres Memorial Park will be conducted Friday, Sept. 30, at 1:30 p.m. with a 2:30 p.m. memorial service following at North County Christ the King, 1816 18th St. in Lynden.

Memorials are suggested to Seattle Children’s Hospital, M/S S-200, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005; St. Jude, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Lynden Senior Center, 401 Grover St., Lynden, WA 98264.

You are invited to share your memories of Lois in the online guestbook at www.Gilliesfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.