Lois (Backstrom) Naegele

Lois Elaine Beckstrom Naegele passed away peacefully at home October 31, 2016. Lois is preceded in death by daughter, Rebecca Riggle; son Bruce Naegele; parents, Oscar and Alice Beckstrom; brother Richard Beckstrom; and sister JoAnn Peterson. She is survived by husband of 68 years, Ross; son, David; daughters Diane (Denise Lord), and Jan Campbell (Steve); son-in-law, Frank Riggle; daughter-in-law, Debra Naegele; grandchildren, Lindsay (Matt), Jesse, Benjamin, Rachel, Connor, Ian, Scott, Melissa, and Stephanie; Lisa Beckstrom (Susan Gerard), John Beckstrom (Lisa), and many other beloved nieces and nephews. Lois will be remembered for her compassionate caring, generous giving, and her warm friendly smile. In her early years, Lois focused on family, friends, academics, and water sports. She was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated at the top of her Marshall High School class. She competed and placed in a national swimming championship, and she, along with her sister JoAnn, also swam in the Minneapolis Aqua Follies. She was certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and spent 3 of her summers as the Waterfront Director at 3 different camps. Perhaps her most infamous water adventure occurred as she served as the first female lifeguard at Shady Oak Lake in Hopkins, where she literally snagged out of the lake a handsome redheaded “troublemaker” who was to become her future husband, Ross. Lois was an amazing role model for her five children. She was definitely a person who taught what she lived and lived what she taught. Lois taught her kids that people are people, and no matter what they look like on the outside or what abilities they do or do not possess, every person is important. Her children never heard a negative word from her about other “kinds” of people. She was also a believer and practitioner of the old sayings, “You can if you think you can,” and “It’s never too late to pursue your dreams.” She demonstrated this by going back to school in her early forties, becoming a Registered Nurse, and then continuing on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree shortly after her 50th birthday. Lois was very open-minded and accepting and encouraged and supported each of her children to excel in their own pursuits. Although incredibly thrifty (one of her favorite hobbies being coupon clipping and bargain hunting), Lois was also extraordinarily generous with both her money and her time. Over the years she donated money to many different charitable organizations as well as helping out family members with various needs. She also donated her time and effort to volunteer with a number of organizations including P-FLAG, Lutherans Concerned, Lutheran Social Services, and Nativity Lutheran Church. Lois loved kids and was always so happy when school would start and she could watch the kids walking through the yards on their way to and from school. She loved animals, especially cats, and her house was never without one. She loved doing the Crypto-Quip in the newspaper every day and sharing the witty solutions with Ross. She loved going to church and watching her daughter Jan lead worship and listening to Ross and her son David sing. She loved attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts, and plays. She loved to make brownies and lemon bars and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. She loved to eat a heaping bowl of ice cream every night before she went to bed. However, the thing Lois loved most was people. People were her passion, and in both her profession and her daily life, she opened her heart and with compassionate kindness and a beautiful smile touched forever the lives of so many around her. Memorial service 2 PM Thursday, November 10 with gathering 1/2 hour prior at Nativity Lutheran Church, 3312 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony. Private interment Hillside Cemetery. Memorials preferred to a charity of the donor's choice. Washburn-McReavy.com Hillside Chapel 612-781-1999

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Lois (Backstrom) Naegele

October 31, 2016

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