Obituary of Lois Elaine Mogren

Lois Mogren, age 98, of Federal Way, Washington, passed away peacefully with family around her on May 10, 2022.

Lois is survived by her husband Kenneth, her children Judith (Peter) Lawson, Jon Mogren, Peter (Tamara) Mogren, her grandchildren Matthew (Brenda) Lawson, Marc (Elizabeth) Lawson, Jennifer Mogren, Emily Mogren, and her great-grandchildren Kaylee and A.J. Lawson, Sophia, Bryant, and Isabel Lawson. Lois was preceded in death by her parents, three siblings and many dear friends.

The daughter of Sidney and Alfleta Fountain, Lois was born in their family home in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 5, 1924. Lois was a precocious student and skipped a grade, graduating from Humboldt High School in 1941. She attended Macalester College in St. Paul from 1941 to 1943 while teaching piano lessons to pay for tuition. In 1942, Lois met Ken Mogren on a blind date. Ken and Lois were married on December 17, 1944, in Chula Vista, California while Ken was on a 10-day furlough from the Army Air Force.

For Ken’s remaining military service, Lois joined her husband for many stateside military assignments. Lois and Ken then moved back to Minnesota briefly before Boeing brought them to the Seattle area in 1947. They soon found a church home and became active members of Riverton Heights Presbyterian Church. They welcomed three children, Judith, Jon, and Peter into their family. Once the children were all in school, Lois returned to college studies, graduating with her teaching degree from Seattle Pacific College in 1967. She taught elementary grades for 18 years in the Highline School District (Boulevard Park, Normandy Park, and Marvista Elementary Schools), retiring in 1983. After retirement, they moved to a home in Federal Way, with a view of Puget Sound where they enjoyed many years participating in the Mar Cheri community.

In 1973, they created their home-away-from-home when they remodeled a little beach cabin on Diamond Point, near Sequim, Washington. Lois was a generous host at both their home and beach cabin. She enjoyed making holidays special with barbeques at the cabin following the festive Diamond Point 4th of July Parade and a traditional Swedish meal at Christmas.

Lois had a deep love for and commitment to her family. When her children were young, they went on many camping trips with family friends from their church. At holidays and summer vacations, they took road trips to California to visit her family, and Minnesota to visit Ken’s family. Lois was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren, attending most of their activities over the years: graduations, Eagle Scout awards, recitals, weddings, and special parties. In later years she warmly welcomed and cherished each of her great-grandchildren. In 2021, Lois and Ken celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.

Never one to be idle, Lois was most often found working long hours in her yard. Flowers brought her great joy. Lois embraced many hobbies including gardening, sewing, knitting, piano playing, stamp collecting, and doll collecting. She sewed gifts for her grandchildren, including matching dresses for her granddaughters and their American Girl Dolls. Lois could always be counted on to use her talents for the church, sewing decorations, window curtains and gifts for ladies' teas.

Lois and Ken enjoyed the adventure of travel, with trips to Europe, throughout North America, and Israel. A lifelong learner, Lois used her new found computer skills to do extensive research on family history, which led her to connect with Ken’s distant relatives in Sweden. Together, Lois and Ken studied the Swedish language, participated in activities at the Swedish Club, and took several trips to Sweden.

At age two, Lois was baptized at St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church. Lois placed her faith and trust in her Savior Jesus Christ at a young age. Throughout her life she participated in church ministries, with a special interest in supporting the work of missionaries. In the later years of her life, when it became difficult to attend church services, she enjoyed hymn sings with her family every Sunday.

Lois was productive, hardworking, and loving. Lois is remembered as a follower of Christ and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

The burial service for Lois Mogren is at Tahoma National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 12:30 pm. A memorial service celebrating the life of Lois Mogren will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 11 am, at Redemption Fellowship Church (15880 Military Rd. S., Tukwila, WA 98188).

Lois loved flowers and gardening but in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, one of the many organizations she supported with her time and resources.