Lois M. Larson-Long

Lois Marie (Larson) Long died at the age of 87 on June 16, 2023, at Miller Pointe Senior Living Community in Mandan, ND.  

Funeral Services for Lois will be on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Leeds Lutheran Church, Leeds ND with the Reverend Connie Monson officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the church on Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Lois will be laid to rest in the Leeds Cemetery. 

Lois was born on June 7, 1936, to Evelyn (Pierson) and Lars R. Larson. According to Lois, it was the only day it rained that year on the family farm, south of Leeds, ND., in Lake Ibsen township. She was baptized and confirmed in the Leeds Lutheran church.  Lois attended and graduated from Leeds Public School in 1954.  She continued her education at Minot State Teachers College where she obtained a B.A. Teaching Certificate. In 1956, Lois married Carl Long and they had two children, Steven and Lisa.  As a family, they lived in Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Corvallis, Oregon and Mankato, Minnesota. They later divorced in 1972.  Lois, Steve and Lisa moved back to Leeds and called it home for many years. 

Lois began her teaching career in Minot, ND, in 1956.  She took some time to stay home to raise her two children, but later returned to Mayville State College to earn a B.S. degree in Elementary Education.  Her teaching career continued at York and Leeds Public Schools for 21 years, as she retired in 1995.  She truly enjoyed teaching the many first-graders during her time there.  

Lois was a kind and tender-hearted woman.  Her genuine care for others was always evident.  She loved family gatherings which resulted in a lot of laughter and too many baked goods!  Making food for everyone was a favorite hobby of hers.  She would often encourage everyone to “Eat Now!”  Lois also enjoyed membership in the Eastern Star while living in Leeds. 

Lois enjoyed many things in life:  traveling, shopping, gifting, tote bags and purses, pens and notepads, Clinique makeup and perfumes, chocolate, mashed potatoes, soap operas, Elton John, collecting Knick knacks, dogs, bird watching, flowers and gardening, magazines and books…just to name a few.  All these things remind us of who she was.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her son Steve (Cathy) Long; daughter Lisa (Tim) Olson; Grandchildren Stephanie (Jon) Williams and Andrea (Brandon) Aldinger; great-grandchildren Ethan Williams, Anna Williams and Logan Aldinger.  She was proceeded in death by her parents and her brother, Lee Larson.

While at Miller Pointe nursing home in Mandan, ND, she received compassionate and quality care from all of the staff.  The family would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to the staff and nurses for their kindness and care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery, P.O. Box 76, Leeds, ND  58346 or Leeds Ambulance Service, 130 – 1st Ave NW, Leeds, ND  58346.