Lois’ Obituary
Lois slept away peacefully at Northwood Lodge Home for the Aged on Sept. 13, 2022 with some quiet music and family by her side. She is predeceased by her husband John (Jack) in 1991.
She is survived by her five children – Bill (Jane), Carol (Jean-Paul), Margaret (Bob), Maureen (Jim) and Doug (Sue). Her 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandies – Róisín (Peter), Martin (Jessalyn); Robert (Erica) and their little Jack, Lara (Jamie) and their Lowen and Noah, Carolyn (Brad) and their Mya and Bentley; John (Theresa) and their Hunter, Heather, Bella and Jacob, Jenn (Aaron), Laura, Mark (Krista); Hilary (Tutty)and their Emilia and Harrison, Chris, Kyle (Kristie), Michelle; Hilary (Peter) and their little June, Rachel (Adam), and Lily.
Lois was born on a farm in Southern Manitoba near the town of Darlingford. Her parents were Gordon and Ada Stevens, whose families were the first homesteaders from the Bowmanville, ON area travelling across country by stagecoach during the Red River migration. She was the oldest of five siblings and is predeceased by Bert(Gwen), Edna (Ken), Jack (Dagmar) and Doreen (Harry).
Lois was 100 years old and larger than life to us all! She loved her childhood life on the farm and was known for her numerous stories that she was always excited to share with grandchildren or anyone who was passing by. Some of them involved setting traps for gophers when she was a kid, pulling their tail off and selling their tail for a penny. Another was about how her father drove the school van (a covered wagon with skis in the winter). He would have a couple of foot warmers which consisted of hot coals in a metal box, one at the front and one at the rear, and a couple of buffalo skin robes for warmth. When her dad passed, with complications from scarlet fever, they sold the farm and Lois took up teaching in a one room schoolhouse. She travelled to school in the wintertime by horse and sleigh and in the summer with a buggy.
In 1945, during the war, Lois went to teach in Red Lake following the fire in the Red Lake hotel where 9 people had died including the primary teacher. She had never heard of Red Lake. At that time, there were no roads into the town. She flew in a floatplane and landed on Howey Bay. Her story goes that she gazed around at the beautiful Canadian Shield and decided that would be `home`. There began a lifetime of happiness in Red Lake and later Cochenour. Lois met Jack at Bimbo`s Hall and they were married in 1946. As she raised her five children, she taught kindergarten from her home in Cochenour and later in the schools for another 21 years.
In the early years, Lois loved to curl, play baseball, skate and go for boat rides and maybe roast a partridge on an open fire. She enjoyed the outdoors, however, music was the love of her life and it followed her everywhere. She was the church choir leader for many years including both junior and senior choirs. Mrs. Beck ran a tight ship but everyone enjoyed themselves. Piano lessons were always an essential part of family life. She loved being involved in school presentations ie. Pinocchio.
In later years, Lois ran the Seniors’ Club and was always there to offer a ride to those in need. Young people were top of the list for Lois and she was instrumental in the construction of the basketball court.
Lois and Jack loved to travel. In 1971, she took a sabbatical year off teaching, left Jack home to pay the bills and headed off with her 5 teenagers to spend a year in London, England going to school and travelling – a momentous year for all! Later on, she and Jack travelled across Europe and through China with Maureen and Jim.
Lois will be remembered for her kindness as she never said a mean word about anyone – a trait that will be a hard act to follow. She was selfless in her feelings towards others, and rarely complained about her own well being. She loved her many grand and great grandchildren individually and celebrated their many strengths.
But most of all, Lois brought music into all of our lives! A few nights ago, she was heard humming the tune “Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life” – a true and fitting finale by one grand lady.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the marvelous staff at Northwood Lodge. Your endless support, kindness and dignified care meant the world to us!
Cremation will be taking place and a celebration of life will be held later in the spring. Donations in Lois’s memory may be made to the Northwood Lodge Home for the Aged (Furniture Fund) or The Chukuni Anglican United Church through the Red Lake Chapel, Box 237, Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Lois Margaret Beck, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lois Margaret Beck 2022..
Red Lake Funeral Chapel Limited
Death notice for the town of: Red Lake, Province: Ontario