Lois Catherine Reynolds

Reynolds, Lois Catherine
93, of Tempe, AZ and formerly of Pipestone, MN, suffered a massive stroke and passed away peacefully on January 20, 2010. She was born December 17, 1917; the fourth child of William Charles and Sylvia Edith Barber of Lane, South Dakota. After graduating Lane High School, she also graduated from Mitchell Business College where she developed her skills in bookkeeping and administration. During World War II, she worked in Sioux Falls, SD, teaching flight protocols and Morse code to airmen. In addition, she worked in an airplane manufacturing factory as a payroll administrator. Following the war she moved to Dallas, TX and was introduced by mutual friends to a dashing young war veteran named, Clois Perry (C.P. or as others knew him, Chuck) Reynolds. Lois demurred at first, but C.P. "knew she was the one" and persuaded her to elope with him on July 14, 1946 in Chicago, IL. The couple first made their home in Dallas, TX where their first child, Sylvia was born. But after a visit to Lois' parents in South Dakota, the couple decided to move north to Mitchell. Here Lois gave birth to the couple's next two children, Doug and Robin. The family moved to Pipestone in 1953 when C.P. became service manager for Pipestone Auto Company. In 1957, C.P. bought the Standard Oil service station at east Main Street and Highway 75 and Lois helped with the business by applying her bookkeeping skills. She also was active in a number of church and community services, including working as a 4H leader. On January 23, 1962, C.P. died suddenly of a heart attack and Lois was left to raise their three children alone. When it was not fashionable for women to work, Lois first secured a job at the County Recorder's office and later joined Pipestone Federal Savings and Loan Association as a teller. By the time she retired in 1983, Pipestone Federal had merged with Twin City Federal and she was promoted to Vice President where she oversaw the operations staff of several branches.She retired to Tempe, AZ in 1983 where she has lived since that time. Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Lake, Lowell and Leo. She is survived by her sister Lola Williams of Sioux City, Iowa; her children and their spouses, Sylvia (Jim Whittington) of Mill Valley, CA, Doug (Jean) Reynolds of Austin, TX and Robin (Leonard S. Gold) of Tempe, AZ; and her grandchildren, Charles Reynolds and Andrew Gold. A private memorial service was held for Lois on January 29, 2011. Cremation services were handled by Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery. Donations can be made in remembrance of Lois to the University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research/Carver Family Center for Macular Degeneration, online at: http://www.uifoundation.org/eye/ or mail to: University of Iowa Foundation, Institute for Vision Research/Carver Family Center for Macular Degeneration, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550.