Mary Alice Lodien, 91
Mary Alice Lodien, of Kalispell, peacefully slipped into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Sept. 18, 2021.
Mary Alice was born in Roseboro, Arkansas, Nov. 13, 1929, to Robert and Willa (Woods) Robertson.
She graduated from Annona (Texas) High School in 1945. One of the highlights of her youth was when, at the age of 16, she spent a year in Washington, D.C., working at the Union Gospel Mission.
After her stay in D.C. she moved to Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, to be with her parents who had moved during her time on the East Coast. It was there that Lester Lodien fell in love with the new girl in the choir. After they were married, the Lord blessed them with two children, Lois Ann and Lester Ray.
Mary Alice and Lester had experienced farm life while growing up and wanted their children to have the same experience, so they purchased their little piece of heaven in 1957. While they were busy raising their young family and growing crops on the farm, they were heavily involved in the beginnings of Eastside Baptist Church in Springfield. For the next 60 years, Mary Alice was the primary pianist/organist for the church. Even after dementia took away her ability to communicate and perform simple tasks, she was still able to play the beloved hymns, which tell the Gospel story.
Over the years, she held just about every job she could hold in the church, including teaching Sunday School for over 50 years. Indeed, outside of her family, serving the Lord was her greatest joy.
Mary Alice had a deep-rooted joy, which continually bubbled to the surface in the form of a twinkle in her eye and a broad smile on her face. She had the kind of genuine love which would fill you up; and warmed the hearts of all who knew her. You could not outgive Mary Alice. She was a servant to family, friends, and strangers alike. Mary Alice was the epitome of the saying, “Jesus first, Others second, and You last.” She truly was a J.O.Y. to be around.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her husband Lester, and great-granddaughter Willow.
She is survived by her daughter, Lois Klune (John), and son, Ray (Mary); granddaughters, Allison Mosier (Michael) and Lindsey Maurer (Rob); grandsons, John Robert Klune (Githa), Philip Lodien (Jessica), and Brandon Lodien (Tia); plus 10 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. today, Oct. 7, in the Canvas Church lower auditorium.