Obituary of Lois Ann Munson

Lois Munson died Thursday March 28th, 2024 at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her husband Wendell Munson; mother Emma and father Chester Weseman; sisters Betty Barrett, Hjordis Wolfe, and Edith Saterbo. She is survived by sons, Len (Diane), David (Karen); daughters Ann Kulla (Roger Benson), Nancy (Eric) Axelson; grandchildren, Lindsey (Dan) Smith, Heidi (Ben) Howard, Derek Kulla, Abby and Tom (Destiny) Axelson; great-grandchildren, Matthew and Piper Smith, Page Howard, Kayli Kulla.

Lois was born September 9th 1931 in Austin, MN to Chester Arthur Weseman and Emma Ruud. She graduated from Austin High School in 1949 and went to Nursing School at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. After finishing nursing school and working as a nurse, Lois and Wendell Vern Munson, her high school sweetheart, were married on September 6th 1952 and lived in their first efficiency apartment on 27th and Portland in Minneapolis while Wendell finished his business degree at U of M and she worked at Northwestern as a nurse. They moved from Minneapolis to Colorado Springs, to Austin, then to Atlanta before returning to Minneapolis and settling at their Zenith Avenue home for 33 years. She was a member of Good Shepherd for 61 years.

Lois was an active stay-at-home mom, leading cub scouts, sewing, and cooking. She also loved her career as a nurse. Ever curious to learn and grow, she went back to school in 1968 to become a nurse anesthetist. She worked at Fairview Southdale, and same-day surgery. Then while working at Riverside, she graduated from Metro state with BA in 1987 before retiring in 1994. Once her career in nursing and raising kids was complete, she volunteered with as much love and excellence as she worked. She was always ready to help with her grandkids, singing in the church choir, cleaning and organizing church closets, polishing silver for altar guild are just a few examples of her many varied gifts and joys of volunteering.

Lois loved to cook and entertain and established a Christmas tradition of lefsa-making with family and friends. She was even was awarded the one of the better lefse recipes in the church lefse grill-off, which even made the paper! She organized the neighborhood block parties, traveling dinner parties, loved to dress up for, and make Halloween outfits for the kids and grandkids. As an excellent seamstress she made the dresses for her all her sisters to wear at their parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party.

After Wendell died, she moved into 7500 York co-op and enjoyed 14 years of active serving in a wonderful community of people, some who became very dear friends. Especially her Friday night happy-hour, Saturday dinner club and of course her Lois club! She also joined Nancy and Tom attending BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) where she grew and deepened her faith in Jesus. Her faith sustained her through many trials, losses, and she was able to sing “It is well with my soul” all the way to her last breath where she peacefully passed with her son David by her side at Deer Crest Senior Living in Red Wing, MN

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday May 10th at 11:30 with visitation an hour before and lunch to follow at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN. follow. Private interment at Fort Snelling prior to the service. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of her life can be made to the following:

• Foster One Ministries: https://fosteroneministries.com/donate/
• Good Shepherd Foundation:  https://www.goodshepherdmpls.org/give
• Wounded Warrior Project: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=11585&ovr_acv_id=16821&campaignSource=ONLINE&source=BS24001AACNBXAA&&msclkid=b018b0a72e1a1a740e98d6bfa4fe4f00&gclsrc=ds