Lois Caroline Frickey

Lois Caroline Frickey

VERMILLION | Lois Caroline Frickey passed away Monday, July 23, 2012, at Medicalodges in Atchison, KS, after a courageous battle against Alzheimer's disease.

Lois Frickey was born Lois Caroline Blessing Sept. 1, 1923, at Dallas, SD, to parents Earnest and Annette Blessing. She grew up on the Dallas family farm and graduated from Winner (SD) High School in 1941. She graduated from Dakota Weslyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1943.

Lois raised three sons in her 1942 marriage to Martin Busch. The family resided in Wolsey, Brookings and Vermillion, SD. In 1969 she married Merle Frickey of Vermillion, SD. Her career as an elementary and middle school special education teacher began in Vermillion where she earned her Master's Degree in special education from the University of South Dakota in 1972. She taught for 16 years in the Vermillion schools and in Nogales, AZ, where she retired in 1992. She was known by her students and colleagues as a kind, loving and caring teacher who treated each child with loving affection. Her special achievements included election as a South Dakota delegate to the 1964 National Teachers' Association National Convention, as a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Vermillion Chapter, being selected as an American Beauty Assistant to the Grand Chapter of Eastern Star in Watertown.

During her retirement years she and husband Merle enjoyed traveling the country visiting friends and relatives, being helpful to many of them in times of need and sorrow. Her friendly smile, sense of humor, strong faith in God and a desire to always serve the needs of others first were the hallmarks of her legacy. Her strength, courage and bravery in raising her three boys must also be noted. Her kind heart and generous soul offered forgiveness of these events in her final years.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Merle S. Frickey, parents, brother, Melvin Blessing, and sisters, Edna Leach and Esther Rollins.

She is survived by her sons, David and Stephan Busch of Atchison, KS, and Harlan Busch of Honduras, Central America, by her stepchildren, Max Frickey of Grover Beach, CA, Judy Naviaux of Salida, CO, and Richard Frickey of Newburgh, IN, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Frances Wagner of Sioux Falls, SD, and Donna Mae Ostlund of Medford, OR.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. CDT Saturday, July 28, at the United Methodist Church of Vermillion. Viewing at the church will begin at 9 a.m. with burial next to her husband Merle at the Vermillion Cemetery.

Monetary donations in her name are requested to be sent to the Alzheimer's Association at Alzheimer's Association, Heart of America Chapter, 3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Kober Funeral Home, Vermillion, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be posted online to www.koberfuneralhome.com.