Lois Marie Burkhart

Lois Marie Burkhart was born on Aug. 7, 1924, in Neligh, Neb., to Orville and Myrtle Minteer Coulthard, joining sisters Ruth and Irene, and was gently carried into eternal rest on Aug. 27, 2007, at Oklahoma City, Okla.

Lois had a long and wonderful life, which was celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at Santa Fe Presbyterian Church in Edmond, Okla. A second celebration will be held at the Hope Memorial Community Center at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.

In 1938, the Coulthard family moved from Neligh to Hope, Idaho, overlooking beautiful Lake Pend d'Oreille, where Lois graduated from Hope High School with a class of seven students.

Following graduation, she went to work at a defense plant in Pueblo, Colo., transferring later to the Hill Air Force Base at Ogden, Utah. There she worked as an airplane mechanic, in the genre of "Rosie the Riveter."

While living there, she met James "Jim" Burkhart, a patient at Brigham City Army Hospital. They were married six weeks later in Dillon, Mont., on Nov., 20, 1944.

After living in Butte, Mont., for a short time, they relocated to Hope, Idaho, where they welcomed two children, a son, Jon and a daughter, Linda. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho was home for several years, with a move to Cody, Wyo., for 18 months and then back to Coeur d'Alene, where Jim worked as an electrician.

Seeking a new adventure, the family sold all of their furniture and loaded a small trailer for a move to Hamilton, Mont. There, Lois worked as a bookkeeper for the same electrical shop as Jim.

After both children graduated from Hamilton High School, the family moved to Missoula, Mont., where Jim and Lois lived until 2002.

Lois enjoyed gardening, volunteering at the senior center, caring for her home, cooking new and unusual recipes, fishing, traveling, working crossword puzzles, playing pinochle, cribbage, and "marbles."

She and Jim would dance at the least provocation. They enjoyed square dancing, ballroom dancing and polkas — if there was music, they were dancing.

For several years, they were active members of the Five Valleys Accordion Association, Hamilton Eagles and Eagles Auxiliary, Missoula Senior Center and Welcoma Club.

She always had a dog and each was "her baby" which she spoiled with love and attention. Health issues forced a move to a senior residence, Clarkfork Riverside and then to Bitterroot Valley Living Center in Stevensville, Mont.

After Jim's passing in April, 2006, Lois moved to Oklahoma City, Okla., to be near her daughter Linda and family, where she lived at The Wellington.

Lois' deepest passion was her family, which includes her son, Jon Burkhart and daughter-in-law, Connie, of Hope; daughter, Linda Champlin and son-in-law, Malcom, of Edmond, Okla.; grandson, James Burkhart and wife, Melissa, of Kalispell, Mont.; grandson, Brian Champlin and wife, Deanna, of Edmond, Okla.; granddaughter, Jennifer Champlin Skypala and husband, Eric, of Edmond, Okla.; and grandson, David Burkhart and wife, Julie, of Spokane, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Colin and Rylee Burkhart of Kalispell, Tanner and Macy Champlin of Edmond, and Dylan Burkhart of Spokane. She also leaves behind brothers-in-law, Stan Voss and wife, Mary; Bud Voss and wife Millie, and Jack Dunn, cousins, many nieces, nephews and their families.

The family asks that any donations be made to the charity of the donor's choice.