Lois E. Oksendahl

Funeral services for Lois Oksendahl will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Hancock with Pastor Julius Miller officiating. A visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.  Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock. Pallbearers were her seven grandchildren: Darby, Alisa, Gwen, Brett, Rachelle, Jason and Ryan; and her nine great-grandchildren who she dearly loved.

Lois Evelyn Oksendahl was born Oct. 12, 1928, in Rugby, North Dakota to Earl and Lena (Morick) Dokken. She grew up and graduated from Rugby High School in 1943.

She married Bradley Oksendahl on Oct. 24, 1948, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, ND. They resided in Wahpeton where Brad was employed with a construction company building the first power lines in Sisseton, SD. They moved to Hancock, MN in 1949 where he worked for the Hancock Telephone Company which he purchased in 1976. Brad retired and sold the company in 1986. They purchased a home on Pelican Lake in Glenwood, MN where they enjoyed many years of good fishing and created many memories with friends and family. In 2005, they moved back to Hancock to be closer to family and to enjoy grandkids participating in sporting events. They raised four children in Hancock.

Following Brad’s death, Lois moved to Skyview Plaza Assisted Living in Morris, MN in 2011 and in 2018; she moved to the Essentia Health Assisted Living in Detroit Lakes, MN, to be near to her two daughters.

Lois was a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Hancock, MN. She taught Sunday School, was a member of the ELCW Bible Study Club and the Cozy Homemakers Club. She worked as a bookkeeper at Steinbring Chevrolet, Hancock and the Hancock Telephone Company. Her favorite past times were quilting, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, sewing and gardening.

Lois died peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2023, at the Oak Crossing Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.  She was 94 years old. 

She is survived by three children: Marcia (Gary) Greiner of Hancock, Gail (Jim) Norland of Detroit Lakes, Donna (Tom) Craigmile of Detroit Lakes; daughter-in-law, Nancy Oksendahl of Burnsville; seven grandchildren: Darby, Alisa, Gwen, Jason, Ryan, Rachelle, Brett; nine great-grandchildren: Courtney, Cody, Mason, Preston, Rylee, Morgan, Carter, Lakelyn, Adeline; step-grandson, Foster; and two great-great- grandchildren: Ellary and Cade; sister, Gloria Volk; and sisters-in-law: Ione Grove and Rosie Dokken.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2010; son, Ken in 2022; two brothers: Darrell and Gordie; and sister, Lorraine.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church Sunday School or Hancock Lions Club.