It was during the Great Depression that Lois was born in Chewelah, WA - a gift to her hard-working parents, Melvin and Doris (Forney) Egland and two older brothers, Stanley and Bob. Her brother, Cliff, arrived five years later. She loved them all deeply. They affectionately referred to her as "Sis." Stanley passed away in his youth but Lois' tight bond with Bob and Cliff lasted throughout her life and they meant the world to her.

The family lived across from the tavern in the tiny town of Addy, WA, until they swapped places with her grandparents and moved out to the farm in Lois' teen years. A bit of a tomboy, Lois did well there at keeping up with the boys: doing chores, huckleberrying, and hunting in the mountains surrounding the beautiful valley in which they lived.

Throughout her schooling, Lois proved to be a bright student and enduring friend to many. She attended Addy Grade School, Jenkins Junior High in Chewelah, and graduated Valedictorian from Jenkins High School in 1954. Afterward, she took the courageous step of moving to the "big city" of Spokane to earn her Bachelor of Secretarial Science Degree at Kinman Business University. There she mastered the unique and challenging skill of shorthand.

John(ny) Greenman, a young man from Blue Creek, had his eye on Lois for quite some time. After all, she was not only smart, she was a "looker." They married in 1955 and moved to Colville to start a family of their own. There Lois applied her secretarial skills at the National Bank of Commerce where she worked on and off between having her three sons: Jerry, Steve, and Doug.

Lois' boys will attest to the unending sacrificial love they felt from her; doing all the Mom-things of running a household along with taking family motorcycle rides to fire lookouts, traveling the state to shout, "Go Colville," at their sporting events (often to their embarrassment), and helping them through the challenges of life… especially with her prayers.

Many in Colville knew Lois best from her many years working as Counseling Secretary/Coordinator at Colville High School for nearly 30 years, completing her time there by writing up the school history and coordinating their centennial celebration. Countless students were impacted by Lois helping them make key life decisions as she cheered them on to be their best.

After her sons had mostly grown and moved on, Lois faced one of the most difficult times in life when she and John parted ways. She found strength to go on through her faith in Jesus and an awareness that, empty house or not, she was not alone. A network of friends also helped her bravely move forward as she became more involved in church and serving others.

Lois thoroughly enjoyed a piece of property she bought off the Addy/Gifford Road. She loved putting on her boots and stomping around the acreage for hours, building and burning slash piles and beautifying her land. Being outside in the woods revitalized her - that and traversing rugged mountain roads in her little car.

Being Grandma to Michael, Jennifer, Shawn and Drew was one of Lois' greatest joys and becoming Great Grandma to Juliana and Ethan sent her over the top with pride.

The final chapter of Lois' life was lived-out at Buena Vista Healthcare. Arriving there unable to walk following a fall in 2013, she saw it as her mission field: wanting everyone to join her for an eternity of living fully in the presence of the One she loved most. Lois' family is deeply grateful for the staff at Buena Vista who extended compassionate care to her for so many years and became her friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Stanley Egland.

She is survived by her three sons:  Jerry Greenman (Debbie) of Camano Island, WA; Steve Greenman (Lynn) of Colville, WA, Doug Greenman (Dianna) of Helena, MT; brothers, Bob Egland (Donna) of Chewelah, WA, and Cliff Egland (Pat) of Delta Junction, AK; grandchildren, Jennifer Greenman, Shawn Greenman, Michael Greenman, and Drew Greenman; great grandchildren, Juliana and Ethan; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

The funeral service for Mrs. Lois Greenman will begin at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 23rd at the Ag-Trade Center in Colville, WA.  The graveside service will follow at the Summit Valley Cemetery near Addy, WA. Memorial contributions may be given to Colville High School. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com   Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.