Lois Loven

Lois Loven, 97 of Peterson, Minn., passed away (Monday, February 27, 2023) peacefully in her sleep at her home.

Funeral service will be Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart, MN. The visitation will be an hour prior to the service starting at 10 a.m. There will be an additional visitation on Friday, March 10, 2023 at Hoff Funeral Home in Rushford, MN from 4-7 p.m.

In lieu of gifts, memorials are preferred to KFSI Radio at 4016 28^th St. SE Rochester, MN 55904 or Focus on the Family at 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

Lois Marie (Blume) Loven, the daughter of Louis Fred and Mary (Oldenburg) Blume, was born at home in Belle Plaine, Minn. on September 18, 1925. She was the youngest of 7 siblings. Baptized at St. John Evangelical Lutheran on October 11, 1925, and confirmed on April 2, 1939, she lived in and attended school in Belle Plaine, Minn. After graduating High School (1943), Lois moved to Minneapolis, Minn. and worked at Dayton’s Department store in the Statistical Department from 1943 – 1946. From January of 1947 to 1949 Lois was a Matron at Homme the Children’s Home in Wittenberg, Wis. attending to the needs of the children. She lived and worked with a Jewish family from 1949 – 1950 as a domestic helper. Lois was joined in matrimony to the love of her life, Orval Marlen Loven, on June 22, 1950, on her parents 45^th wedding Anniversary. The wedding ceremony was performed by P. J. Haupt, who also had baptized and had confirmed Lois. Orval and Lois farmed with his parents until March of 1955. At that time Orval and Lois had 4 sons and moved to the farm near Peterson, Minn. Three more sons and three daughters (one was stillborn) completed their family. Their love was sweet with Orval often bringing to her the first violets, which were her favorite…and her saying, “The first flowers of summer.”

Lois was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Peterson, Minn. for many years where she was active in the Church Choir, Sunday School as a Teacher and Superintendent, and the Altar Committee. She was also an active member of the Ladies Aid. Lois was blessed to be able to remain at home to raise their family. She canned and made an estimated 26 loaves of bread a week to feed her family. As the children grew, Lois went to work in Peterson, Minn. at Dencor. In 1989, Orval and Lois changed membership from Grace Lutheran to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart. Lois was active in Ladies Aid at Hart, and started quilting in 1989. Lois remained on the family farm for several years after Orval’s passing in 2004, moving off the farm into Rushford in 2010 when her grandson and his wife purchased the farm. In July of 2022, Lois returned to the family farm in Peterson, living out the remainder of her days with her grandson, his wife, and their children in the home she shared with Orval and her children. Lois enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, quilting, and reading through the Bible several times, although later in life macular degeneration took away these pleasures. She was a supporter of KFSI Radio out of Rochester (92.5 FM) and listened to it daily through her journey of Faith. Spending holidays with as many of the family who were able to make it home was a joy to her as was visiting with friends and family throughout the year. She also enjoyed playing card games. She was quite a card shark when it came to Uno. Though Lois was of German and Prussian background, she felt fortunate to marry into a family that made traditional Norwegian Foods. She made Lefse, flatbread, sweet soup, and lutefisk. But she also made her German favorite of Peppernut cookies. For years she gave out tins of these special treats to her children/grandchildren at Christmas time. Lois will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew her as a selfless and loving lady who loved her Savior and was at peace to go Home.

Lois is survived by her children: Mark (Kathy) Loven of Escondido, Calif.; Paul Loven and his life partner (Rich Price) of Westbrook, Maine; Joel (Julie) Loven of Lanesboro, Minn.; John (Charlene) Loven of Decorah, Iowa; James (Beverly) Loven of LeRoy, Minn.; Daniel Loven of Breesport, N.Y.; Ruth (Dale) Loomis of Peterson, Minn.; Elisabeth Loven and her special friend (Lance Pedersen) of Le Mars, Iowa; Philip (Cynthia) Loven of Hawarden, Iowa; 18 grandchildren Bryan Loven, Bradley Loven, Molly Rislov, Martha Loven, Jessica Sass, Benjamin Loven, Adam Loven, Amanda Stansfield Knutson, Timothy Loven, Hannah Hansen, Beth Macure, Marie Loven, Thomas Loven, Becky Loven, Ian Cranley, Cody Wangerin, Anita Wangerin, Sarah DeLuca and 24 great grandchildren, several step-great grandchildren and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by: Husband Orval Loven (2004), Infant daughter (1957), Her Parents: Louis Fred (1953) & Mary (1972) Blume Sisters: Lucille (1996) & Willard Morris (2000) and her late husband Robert Swanson (died in 1944 - WW2 @ Battle of the Bulge) and Florence (1984) & Wesley (1991) Schmidt, Brothers: Lester (1993) & Alice (1997) Blume, Ervin (1996) & Grace Blume (1996), Loren (1972) & Mona Blume, Howard Blume (1917, passed away as a child). Daughter-in-law: Linda Loven (2004), In-Laws: Henry (1981) & Clarissa (1974) Loven, Brother-in-law: Lloyd (2011) & Susie (2010) Loven, Sister-in-law: Vivian (1999) & Donald (1993) Niemann.