Lois Ann (Borland) Brown, 85

Lois Ann (Borland) Brown, 85, passed away peacefully at her home in Sandpoint, Idaho, Jan. 15, 2007, surrounded by loved ones.

The Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at Coffelt's Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division St., in Sandpoint, ID.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 621 Oak Street, in Sandpoint, ID. Father Dennis C. Day will officiate. Interment will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park.

Lois was born in Dunseith, N.D., to Harold and Annie Gottbreht Borland on Sept. 8, 1921. She spent her early years living on an Indian reservation, where she developed a love of horseback riding, dirt, and discovered that her parents possessed unlimited patience for their youngest child.

The family moved to Oregon and opened a gas station-store when Lois was in her teens.

She won the Oregon state shorthand championship twice while in high school, graduation form Tigard High School in Tigard, Ore. She attended Merylhurst College. In the spring of 1941, Lois left Oregon to accept a job with the Federal Price Administration in Washington, D.C.

It was on the fate-filled train ride that she met her future husband, a sailor, just about the time the train passed through the Sandpoint-Bonners Ferry area. Lois and Dell Brown were married Nov. 29, 1942 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. They spent the next 20 years living the military lifestyle as Dell was promoted through the ranks to become a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy.

During a lengthy summer vacation in 1958, while searching for a place to raise their family of five children, Lois and her husband fell in love with North Idaho and beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Following their retirement from the Navy, Lois and her husband settled for good in Sandpoint, Idaho, a place they both would call "home" for the rest of their lives.

In addition to their own five birth children, Lois and Dell cheerfully opened their doors to many others, both adults and children. Friends and relatives alike lived in and visited the Brown house. Everyone was welcome, any time. Lois and Dell both felt that a dinner for less than 10 was hardly worth bothering with. They worked very hard here, running a family business out of their home and establishing Brown's TV and appliance, which later became Nelson's TV.

Lois was a life-long Catholic and was a member of St. Joseph's Church for nearly 50 years. Her Christian values and beliefs were evident in her daily life. Lois enjoyed being a member of the Civic Club, Alter Society, and working at the Friday afternoon soup kitchen.

She toured England and France when she was 75 years old and was especially proud of the fact that she went parasailing to celebrate her 80th birthday. Lois was never one to miss an adventure, she once was invited to drive to Indiana with her cousin and immediately answered, "Sure, I'll go. When?" Her cousin said, "I am on my way from Post Falls to pick you up now." Lois was ready to leave in 30 minutes on a three-week trip!

She loved her morning "Jumble" and crossword puzzles and beat all comers at Scrabble. Most of all she loved her children, and their children. She always believed that any small child who sat still for very long could never grow up to reach their full potential, which was probably unlimited.

Lois Brown is survived by her children Bill (Carolyn) Brown of Sagle; Marilyn (Duane) Ward of Sandpoint; Mike (Patty) Brown of Las Vegas; Donna (Bud) Lang of Sagle; and Patty (Ernie) Murphy of Sandpoint; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her loving caregivers/companions, Sharon Duggins and Laura Young.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dell Brown; her parents; her brother, Bill; her sister, Anastasia; and a daughter-in-law, Sally Morrow Brown.

Memorials may be donated to Bonner Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1448, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Lois' online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.