Lois Elaine Bolander

Lois Bolander, 84, passed away Friday, December 5, 2008, at her home in Firth.      

She was born on February 12, 1924 in Firth, ID to Barber Dewayne Dye and Ila Mae Johnson Dye. She graduated from Firth High School as valedictorian of her class after only eleven years of school.       

On May 24, 1943, she married Gary Bolander in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and lived her entire life in Firth except for a year each in Choteau, MT and Evanston, WY.  Lois loved Idaho and expressed her gratitude many times for living in this area.  She especially loved and appreciated all of her friends and neighbors wherever she lived, whom she felt had all enriched and blessed her life.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and loved her posterity and Diane and Shelley Nelson, who were like family to her.       

Lois was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities through the years.  She and Gary served a mission in the Idaho Falls temple visitor’s center and later served as temple workers for seven years, where they made close and lasting friendships.  She loved her final calling as a primary teacher and was tremendously grateful for the children she taught.      

Lois loved to sing, and her beautiful soprano voice was enjoyed by many throughout the years.  She was an excellent seamstress, a superb cook, loved writing poetry, and enjoyed hobbies of painting, and camping in the great Idaho outdoors.  She will be missed by all, but has left a great legacy to carry on.      

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Gary Bolander of Firth, sons Kent (Vicky) of Bellingham, WA, Ralph (Donna) of Evanston, WY, Bruce (Judy) of Las Vegas, NV, daughters Sharleen Wilson (Don) of Idaho Falls, Michele Hepworth (Neil) of Blackfoot, Jan Shields (Aaron) of DeRidder, LA; 24 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by 5 brothers:  Dewayne (Janiece) of Rose, William (Millie) of Weirsdale, FL, Dale Nebeker (Marnie) of Bountiful, UT, Brent (Linda) of Idaho Falls, Kerry (Irene) of Kimberly, ID and sister Barbara Taylor (Preston) of Inkom, ID.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Ila Dufer (George) and a grandson.     

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Kimball Ward Chapel, (744 N. 600 E.) in Firth with Bishop Boyd Peterson, conducting. The family will receive friends Wednesday 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 W. Oak St.) in Shelley and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Thursday prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Firth Cemetery.