Lois Marquardt Mitchell, 86

Lois Marquardt Mitchell, 86, a resident of Billings, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012.  

She was born to William J. and Cora King Marquardt in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Oct. 13, 1926. She spent her childhood in Idaho and western Montana, including Hot Springs and Kalispell. After graduating from Flathead County High School in Kalispell in 1944, she attended Montana State University in Bozeman and Eastern Montana College in Billings, and worked in the Billings Deaconess Hospital until 1946.  

She married James David Mitchell in Billings in 1946 and raised their 14 children there from 1947 to 1987. She spent some of those years working at the Deaconess Hospital as a nurse's aide and Treasure Trails Girl Scout Council as field director and camp director of Timbercrest Girl Scout Camp, where she was well known and loved as “Buttercup.”  

Lois believed in donating her time and energy to good causes and volunteered throughout her adult life. She was an active volunteer at the YMCA for 20 years, and the American Red Cross for 25 years. She was very involved in her community and was a member of many local organizations. Among her longtime favorites were Lois Club, YMCA Birthday Club, Friendship Force (traveling to meet members of other communities and hosting members in her home), Global Grannies (experiencing extensive world travel) and LOWS Camping Group. She was a patron of the arts, enjoying the opera, symphony, theater and a variety of musical performances.

After retiring, she realized her passion for traveling, visiting her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends throughout the U.S.A. She also enjoyed exploring new lands and cultures, visiting 27 countries and forming instant friendships around the world. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Lois would remember her forever.

Lois had a beautiful voice, and was a past member of the choirs at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, St. Pius X Catholic Church, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Billings Symphony Chorale. While raising her children she would frequently sing and play the piano, despite the noise from her brood.

She loved to camp with her family and spent most summer vacations at Yellowstone National Park and Red Lodge while the children were growing up. Beginning in 1986, the family met every summer for a family reunion, and she eventually built a cabin in the Swan Valley as a gathering place and family retreat. She loved the outdoors and spent many hours swimming, canoeing and relaxing.

She believed in lifelong learning, and returned to college at the age of 35. While in her 70s, she studied Italian and completed creative writing classes. She read extensively until the end of her life.  

She enjoyed doing for others; she was always busy making handmade gifts for family and friends. She was an accomplished seamstress and accomplished cook.

She was a devout Catholic and her faith was very important to her. She was an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Throughout her life in Billings, she served in the Altar Societies at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, St. Pius X Church and St. Thomas the Apostle, and was a member of Catholic Daughters Court of St. Cecelia for 64 years.  

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dean Marquardt, and wife, Lorraine; husband, James David Mitchell; son-in-law, Robert Williams McKaig; and her especially beloved grandson, Jacob Allyn Beck.

She is survived by her children, Robert Paul and Susan Mitchell, James Patrick Mitchell, Barbara Jean and Frederick Zavodny, Mary Catherine and Thomas Donohue, Cecelia Ann McKaig, Thomas Gregory Mitchell, Margaret Rose and George Ahlin, Dennis Joseph and Margaret (her loving and devoted “Peg”) Mitchell, Patricia Marie and Bernard Goodell, Joan Elizabeth and Robert Parker-Frey, Teresa Maureen and Matthew O’Neill, Dolores Eileen and Michael Cochrane, Rita Clare and Douglas Beck, Michael Damian and Debbie Mitchell; grandchildren, Sean and Karen Mitchell, Sadie Mitchell, Jeremy McKaig, Lynette Zavodny and Gabe Dillon, Nathan and Aimee Mitchell, Heather McKaig, Tara Mitchell, Katie Mitchell, Christine Ahlin, Patrick Mitchell, Kyle Beck, Shannon Goodell, Rachel Parker, Dylan Goodell, Ryan Parker, Johanna Mitchell, Eloise Mitchell and Mitchell Albert Cochrane; and great-grandchildren, Halley Campbell, Cosmo Mitchell, Melena Mitchell, Meela Mitchell, Tripp Mitchell, Arlo Arrowtop, Rowan Parker and Maizee Mitchell.

She is also survived by her sister, Wilma Minette, and her children, John Minette, Carolyn Minette, Trish Hodge, Lynn Fogus, James Minette, Eileen Clark, Sharon Danielson and Gloria Morgan Jones; and brother Dean's children, Kathleen Marquardt, Sherman Marquardt, Joan Marquardt, Dawn Marquardt, Candace Marquardt and Cindy Marquardt.

In addition, she had a host of honorary sons and daughters who were friends of her children and many special friends wherever she lived, especially her very dearest friend since third grade, Twila Dopp, of Kalispell.

She had an amazing spirit and great love of life. She considered her children and grandchildren her greatest blessings. One of her final messages to us on the day before she passed was, “Stay happy in your tomorrows.”  

If you wish to honor Lois' memory, we suggest donating to a charity of your choice, or volunteering your time to a charitable organization.

A vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at Cremation & Funeral Gallery in Billings. A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Billings, with a lunch to follow.

Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfgbillings.com through “Our Families.”