Lois Jean Mickaelson was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She left this world on Dec. 15, 2021 at the age of 91.
She was born to Frank and Sophia Scotberg on Dec. 4, 1930 in Portland, Oregon. Lois spent 90 of her 91 years on the "farm" outside Woodland, Washington on the land her family settled in the late 1800s.
Lois attended Woodland High School where she was an "A" student and was very involved in the theater program. She acted in many plays as a member of the drama club. Lois graduated as salutatorian of her class in 1949 and received a scholarship to attend Central Washington University. It was then that she met the love of her life Ken Mickaelson. Lois and Ken never left Woodland and raised seven kids along with numerous farm animals and pets on the "farm."
She loved everything to do with country living. Over the years, she raised all manner of livestock but had a special place in her heart for Jersey cows and her beloved Dachshund Ernie. She was also both an excellent cook and baker. She was an avid reader and when not working or doing chores on the farm she could be found engrossed in a good book. Lois loved to travel and see new places. Over the years, she was able to visit a number of places on her bucket list.
Along with raising seven kids, she found the time to work at several jobs in her life. She worked at the bulb farms in Woodland, as a secretary at Joe Zumstein logging alongside her lifelong friend Cheryl Zumstein and for her daughter Linda, who owned and operated Sophia's Kitchen in Brush Prairie, Washington.
She loved spending time with her family, hosting numerous gatherings, celebrations, and trips to the beach and camping trips to Yale and Swift Reservoir. She could always be counted on to make the best of any situation and always saw the best in those she met and people that she loved. Lois was a friend to every human and animal she met. She was truly one of God's greatest gifts in her talent to be present with others, lend a listening ear, or offer a famous fresh baked cinnamon roll. To quote Lois from a letter she wrote, “All you can do is greet each day with a renewed love of life and your fellow human beings. Don’t get caught up in the race to collect more toys than your peers or neighbors. Things are not important. flTake time to enjoy the flowers, sunsets, sunrises, the mountain and the sea. Walk in beauty as the Navajos say.”
We can all hope to love each day as Lois did and learn a few things from her advice. She is deeply loved and missed every moment of every day by her family.
Ken and Lois were married for 62 years until his passing in 2011.
Lois was preceded in death by sons Frank (Kara) and Kenneth Jr.
She is survived by Linda Tryon (Gary) of Long Beach, Washington; Carol Saari of Walla Walla, Washington; Maureen Tsugawa (Dennis) of Woodland, Washington; Lori Azbill (Tim) of Nez Perce, Idaho; Nels Mickaelson (Nadine) of Woodland, Washington; and her cousin and best friend Joyce Jones of Woodland, Washington, along with 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
