Lois M. Fougner, age 92, of Mitchell SD died Sunday, November 17, 2019 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Will Funeral Chapel with burial at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Will Funeral Chapel.

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our lovely mother, Lois Maxine (Mathis) Fougner.  She left us surrounded by the love of her family as she went with grace to be with her Lord, to whom she was a faithful servant.

June 7 ^th , 1927 – November 17 ^th , 2019.  Of course, the first date, her birth.  The second date, her death.  The life made between those dates is the legacy she leaves behind.

Lois came into this world on June 7 ^th , 1927 on a farm near Storla, SD. Her parents were William and Myrtle (Hutton) Mathis.  She joined her brothers, Harold and Wilbur, and then a few years after Lois, Ernest came along making the family complete.  Life wasn't easy on a farm in the 20's and 30's, but the memories she shared about her childhood spoke of hard work and determination, as well as love and togetherness.

She attended country school for the first years, speaking many times of how in the winter they rode in the back of a cattle truck with a wood stove in the middle for heat.  She graduated from Letcher High School in 1945 after which she moved to Mitchell with her girlfriends, working at JC Penney in the shoe department. It was during this time a handsome young man entered her life by a blind date.  Her girlfriend, Rosie was to set up this blind date and almost picked the wrong Lois.  Her kids are glad Aunt Rosie got it right!  Howard (Buzz) Fougner made her his wife on June 6 ^th , 1948. Together they were blessed with a sense of adventure, living in many different places until settling in Pontiac Michigan, where they raised their family.  The memories we have as a family are priceless.  She was the best at everything.  She was the best cook and every one of her kids would say fried chicken and milk gravy were by far the best in the world. She was the best seamstress! She made our dad's suits! She did beautiful embroidery work and crocheting, even teaching a couple of her grandsons how to crochet.  She had the best green thumb and her flower garden was the best of the neighborhood.   She loved playing cards and in later years loved showing her grandkids the art of card playing with only a bit of cheating.  She was the best mom, being loving yet stern with a few "just wait til your dad gets home" thrown in.  She could handle a broomstick with finesse and wasn't bad with a BB gun.   We couldn't have asked for a better mom.

Lois had been on her own for the past 32 years after our dad passed away from cancer.  She spent time living in Arizona and South Dakota. She filled those years with traveling and living in different retirement communities, always wishing Dad was still around to share the adventures with her.  The last few years were spent in Mitchell as the progression of aging kept her closer to the loved ones that cared for her.

Those that have gone before her to welcome her home are the love of her life, Buzz; her parents; her brothers Harold, Wilbur, and Ernie.

Those left behind to cherish her memory and pass on her legacy of love and kindness are her children: Lynn (Sharon), Rapid City, SD.  Marc (Mary), White Lake, Michigan.  Del (Tula), Mitchell, SD . Randal (Traci), Prescott, Arizona. Scott (Kristi), West Fargo, ND. Yvonne (Mick Tscherter), Nevada, Iowa.  Her grandchildren: Julie, Jayeson, Jessica, Jaimee, Gerald, Amberlee, Nathanael, Ethan, Jacob, Joshua, Megan, Abbie, Nic, Jon, Kayla, Vicki, Billy, and Larry, and numerous great-grandchildren as well as many friends and relatives.

The family requests that memorials my be directed to the Mitchell Christian School.