Lois Ehlers, 79, of Spearfish passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Spearfish Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, Novebemer 29, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish. Vigil will follow at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.


Lois Maxon Ehlers waltzed into this world at the at the end of a long prairie winter, on March 29, 1932, the fourth child of twelve, and the first daughter, of L.E. (Lornie) and Mary (Ament) Maxon.
She continued her dance of life with spontaneity, energy and creativity. From a young age she learned to sew her own clothes, which was a great help to her big ranching family during the Depression. Her tireless energy helped her mother "mother" her eight younger siblings…. and sometimes her older ones, too! She kept everyone entertained with her own cowboy answer to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn with her characters, "Buckwater Pete and Farley Blue".

While teaching Home Economics and Physical Education in Wakpala, S.D., Lois met and married Lt. O. Kirk Ehlers, a graduate of West Point, December 28, 1955. Together they raised six children while being stationed in Germany and different parts of the U.S.
Before moving to Spearfish, Lois taught in the high school at McIntosh, SD, and also worked for Social Services in Timber Lake, SD. She left her job in Timber Lake to care for her mother in McLaughlin, SD. After her mother passed away Lois made her home in Spearfish, SD, where she married Richard (Dick) Titus in 2002.
For the last six or seven years, up to the spring before her hospitalization, Lois was enrolled in the Grandparents Program at Spearfish Preschool where she read to the children, made scrapbooks and sewed animal costumes for them.
Lois was truly her father's daughter, making friends out of strangers everywhere she went throughout her entire life; she carried in her heart her mother's faith and kindness as well, making her one of the most memorable of women.

Above all, Lois was there for every member of her family, and those who were not, when they needed her most; without hesitation or recrimination; without thought of "payback". She knew in her heart of hearts that "what goes around, comes around". Perhaps that is why she was surrounded by her three daughters, Dawn, Denise and Sandi; her three sisters, her brothers and numerous nieces and nephews. So much love surrounded her in the last days and moments of her life.

Lois was preceded in death by her father, L.E. Maxon, mother Mary, brothers Lyle, Bud and Dick.
She is survived by her children: Dawn (Randy) Gowery, Reno, NV, Denise (Bob) Thinglestad, Watertown, SD, Sandi Ehlers, Becida, MN, Alicia Salas, Lead, SD, Owen Ehlers, Newcastle, NE, Mary Husen, Newcastle, NE. Siblings: Frank (Delores) Maxon, Bismarck, ND, Mel (Delaine) Maxon, Lemmon, SD, Arlene (Bob) Baumeister, Sidney, MT, Charles Maxon, Buffalo, SD, George (Charlotte), Ft. Bridger, WY, Ken Maxon, Little Eagle, SD, Marilyn Zeman, Spearfish, SD and Kate Maxon, Lillooet, BC, Canada. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Asher, Josh, Nikki, Troy, Ffjorren, Pete, Jake, Dusty, Grant, Ty, Laura, Eric, Heather and Shane; eleven great grandchildren: Ariana, Alana, Claire, Aramia, Bella, Fox, Ian, Ryan, Leuca, Blake, Mason.