Lois passed away Monday morning, Nov. 15, 2021, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lois was born Feb. 25, 1936, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Lois grew up on a small, century family farm, in Gruver Iowa, with her loving Norwegian parents Torger and Velva Winterton, her younger brother Bud (Robert) and sister Marcia (Moffitt). It is likely that on the farm she learned her strong work ethic. She loved to sing and sang solos for church events before she got busy having her six girls and raising a family. She loved to fish and after the farming was complete, her family went fishing in northern Minnesota. She loved the Minnesota Northwoods, with the tall pines and beautiful lakes. Larry loved them as well so they continued the fishing trip tradition with their girls. Lake Kabetogama was one of her extra happy places. There were annual and sometimes bi-annual trips not only with family but with dear friends as well. This past July we were fortunate enough to have taken mom one last time to the same resort on Kabetetogama, we even stayed in the same old cabin. Lois met Larry Willard at Sammy’s which was a part of the Interlaken Ballroom. They married in 1959. Lois and Larry were blessed with six daughters: Carmen, Kim, Tonia, Gina and twins, Jodi and Jackie. Lois dreamed of living on a lake in Minnesota when she was a young girl, and her dream came true when her and Larry resided on Amber Lake in Fairmont, about 30 miles north of the farm she grew up on. Here Larry and Lois raised their family. Lois loved to entertain on her deck, which was often filled with friends and family having a great time, enjoying her wonderful food and the beautiful sunsets. She also loved feeding and watching the birds. Lois was a true fit for the hospitality industry, she worked at the Oaks Inn for 7 years and as the story goes she ran into Butch Stovern who managed Interlaken, he mentioned they were looking for extra help during the holiday season so she helped out and never left. It wasn’t long before the Board of Directors asked her to be the clubhouse manager. Interlaken was moms’ second home. Lois loved taking care of the members and the employees which many became lifelong friends. The Club was truly in its glory days when Lois was there. It was the place to be, with many fun tournaments and parties, and Lois made it even more special. All of her six daughters, and two of her granddaughters, Tamsen and Danielle worked for her. Many of the employees considered Lois their second mom, this is where she gained her sons. A dear friend of the family recently said “Age didn’t matter to Lois, she had so many young and older friends” a testament to the many generations who loved her. Lois had another love and that was Hawaii. She loved to tell people about her many vacations to the islands, a total of 16, most of them for a month. She enjoyed taking friends along and being the tour guide. She had a true aloha spirit and of course made many friends on her favorite place, The Big Island. So we say to Mama Lois “a hui hou,” which in Hawaii means, “until we meet again”… somewhere over the rainbow.

Lois was loved by many friends and her adoring family. She will be missed so very much. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Carmen Willard of Fairmont, Minn., Kim (Michael) Tobin of Minnetonka, Minn., Tonia (Dave) Kahler of Hackensack, Minn., Gina Willard (Jim Punch) of Minneapolis, Minn., Jodi Willard Bergmanis of Shakopee, Minn., Jackie Willard Jersak (Jim Draper) of Fairmont, Minn.; grandchildren, Tamsen Leimer, Danielle Munsterman, Jack Tobin, Jamie and Joe Jersak, Jake and Jenna Bergmanis, Jamie Punch Henry, Megan Punch Drewiske and Lauren Punch Handshy; great-grandchildren, Ben and Nathan Leimer, Ryder and Kennedy Munsterman, Carter and Sienna Henry, Charlie, and Koko Drewiske; brother, Robert Winterton; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Sylvia Willard; many loving nieces and nephews. Lois was preceded in death by her loving husband, Larry; sister, Marcia Moffitt; parents, Torger and Velva Winterton. We would like to thank the amazing caregivers for taking care of our mom over the past few months. At Lakeview here in Fairmont and especially the doctors and nurses on the 8th floor, Nasseff Tower, at St. Mary’s Mayo Hospital in Rochester. Words cannot express how grateful we are for the extra special loving care theses mortal angels gave our mom. Memorials are preferred to Martin County Yellow Ribbon or Martin County Humane Society. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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