Lois Irene Bain

Lois Irene Bain

Lois Irene Bain (née Horkey) was born on October 3, 1930, in her family's home to parents Eva and Stephan Horkey in Tiffany Township, near Boyceville, Wisconsin. She grew up in a close-knit dairy farming community, primarily settled by Slovakian immigrants. It's where her father's family had established roots in 1902 after immigrating from their homeland. Both sides of her family owned and operated dairy farms in close proximity to one another.

Lois began her early education in the area, facing the challenge of not speaking the majority language, Slovak. Her family later moved to Chicago, where her father found work in a steel mill. However, after he suffered heart damage and became disabled, the family returned to Wisconsin. Stephan passed away in 1937, leaving Lois and her two brothers, Eugene (10) and Richard (2), in the care of their mother, Eva. Following her father's passing, the family relocated from Boyceville to Glenwood City, where Eva ran a tavern while Lois and her brothers attended school. Lois would on occasion walk herself to church, seeking whatever comfort to be offered.

She attended Glenwood City High School, where she was a cheerleader, graduating in 1948. Determined to further her education, she moved to Minneapolis to live with her uncle and aunt, Joe and Sal Horky, while attending Dunwoody College of Technology. There, she earned an associate degree in Business Management & Leadership. After graduating in 1950, she began her professional career with Allis-Chalmers, a manufacturer of agricultural and industrial machinery.

Mother Eva and stepfather Casey learned of new opportunities in California, and Lois chose to join them. It was much to the disappointment of her boss, who told her, "You could go very far here if you'd stay." Undeterred, they set off for the West Coast, first stopping in Los Angeles before eventually settling near Sacramento. There, Lois secured a position with the aerospace company Aerojet General.

One Friday night after work, Lois, Eva, and Casey visited a small bar in Orangevale. That evening, a woman approached Lois and said, "Let me introduce you to Jimmy Bain." At that moment, the name Lois Bain crossed her mind-it stuck, and not long after, she and Jim were married.

The couple settled in Carmichael, where they purchased their first home. They soon welcomed two sons, David and Michael, and later acquired a parcel of land in a mature almond orchard. Their dream home took shape with Jim making the designs and Lois's brother Gene providing much of the labor. The following years were spent landscaping and cultivating the property, creating a place they would proudly call home.

Lois continued to work at Aerojet while they raised their two sons. The Bain family enjoyed frequent camping trips in the Sierras to hunt and fish.

Lois continued in her education to earn a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's in 1978, which gave her an opportunity to take a position with the State of California. Upon retirement, Lois and Jim embraced their love of the outdoors with even more camping-this time in a camper and later a motorhome. They enjoyed fishing from their boat on the lakes of Plumas County and were often joined by their son David, his wife Karen, and their three grandchildren, Matthew, Natalie, and Lauren. A beloved family tradition was born with annual Thanksgiving trips to Bodega Bay in the motor-home.

Lois was able to enjoy the family home for many years, even though her husband Jim had passed in 2004. With youngest son Michael having passed in 2001, Lois made the difficult decision to leave the home and garden she and Jim had lovingly built over 60 years. She relocated to Reno, Nevada, to be closer to David and Karen. Though the transition was challenging, she eventually embraced her new independent living community, enjoying family gatherings and social dinners more than ever before.

On January 1, 2024, after much reflection, Lois made a profound change in her life-she surrendered her heart to Jesus as her Lord and Savior. This newfound faith gave her life a deeper sense of meaning, and she found joy in attending Sunday services, something she had resisted for much of her adult life.

In the last year, Lois often expressed a simple wish-to one day fall asleep and not wake up. That wish was gently fulfilled on February 1, 2025 at the age of 94.

A private service of interment will be held on March 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM, where her remains will be placed with Jim's at Lakeside Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice in remembrance of Lois Bain. A Celebration of Life will take place on August 2, 2025 when her three grandchildren and their families will be present.