Lois Baney

Lois Lorraine (Swift) Baney was born May 18, 1925 in Lucas, South Dakota to her loving parents Oral and Aletha (Stinton) Swift. Lois had many wonderful memories of her childhood, but her favorite, she often mentioned is when her brother Dwaine was born and later her sister Ruth Ann. She also cherished her memories of church picnics and many Sunday dinners around the table with her family and anyone else who was able to come after church. She would often get a good laugh, recalling the mischief she and her cousin Wesley would get into.

Lois attended the Smith country school in the Lucas area. She then attended Lucas High School her freshman and sophomore year and finishing her junior and senior year at Burke High School. Lois attended Springfield South Dakota College to get her teaching degree. Lois had a love of teaching and touched many lives through VBS, Sunday school and country school. Lois also attended Northern Baptist Bible College in Chicago furthering her love of learning God's word.

On May 22, 1952, Lois married her love George Baney in Washington DC where George was stationed. There they had many wonderful memories that would bring a smile to her face. In 1953 Lois and George moved back to the area where they worked for many different people making many memories and lifelong friends along the way.

Lois and George were blessed with three daughters Lorraine (Baney) Serr, Lori (Baney) Mattingly and Lisa (Baney) Scott, but their family was not yet complete. Lois and George became foster parents and were able to provide love and care to many children even if just for a night. It was hard seeing the little ones come and go, but they were blessed to be able to adopt Michelle (Baney) Wiedeman, Ira Baney, Kaci (Baney) Burwell, and Margo Baney making their family complete.

In later years, Lois was blessed to become a grandma then a great grandma but really it was all of us who were blessed to be her grandkids. Each one of us has such special memories from playing dominoes, making cookies, long visits and reading story books. Although I think we can all agree a memory we will always hold onto is Sunday dinners with all of us around Grandma's table where there was always room for one more.

Lois had a love for people and was a church greeter for many years welcoming people in with a smile, a hug and making sure you didn't forget your bulletin. More than her love for her family and friends was her love for her risen Lord and Savior and sharing that with others.

Lois passed away on January 22, 2026 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center at the age of 100 years.

She is preceded in death by husband George Baney, parents Oral and Aletha Swift, brother Dwaine and wife Avis Swift, sister Ruth Ann (Swift) Anderson, and granddaughter Andrea Serr.

Lois is survived by her children: Lorraine and husband Robert Serr of Dallas, SD, Lori and husband Bob Mattingly of Dexter, Kansas, Lisa and husband Frank Scott of Wingdale, New York, Michelle Wiedeman of Gregory, SD, Ira Baney of Sioux Falls, SD, Kaci and husband Corbin Burwell of Sioux Falls, SD, and Margo Baney of Pierre, SD; granddaughter Caitlin and husband Kevin Moody and great grandchildren Aletha, Peter and Alaina of Dallas SD, grandson Cory Scott of Sioux Falls, SD, grandson Clayton Kerner of Sioux Falls, SD, and grandson Andrew Wiedeman of Dexter, Kansas; and brother-in-law Leroy Anderson of Brookings, SD, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Lois Baney, age 100, of Gregory, SD, were held on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Berean Church in Gregory, SD, with David Swift officiating. A Visitation was held Friday evening from 6-8 at the church.

Music was provided my Michaela Swift, pianist.

Congregational hymns were "What A Day That Will Be," "How Great Thou Art," "Count Your Many Blessings," and "Because He Lives."

Dottie Shoemaker and Janeen Hlavka were in charge of registration.

Flower attendants were Fawn Swift and Patience Swift.

Casket Bearers were Andrew Weideman, Boaz Swift, Judah Swift, Malachi Swift, Jeremiah Swift, and Daniel Shoemaker.

Honorary Casket Bearers were Frank Fulwider, Boyt Young, Steve Johnson, John Jacobsen, Doug Roggow, and Daren Roggow.

Interment was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Gregory, SD.