Lois Jean (Sieh) Holmberg was born in Burke, South Dakota on June 16, 1946, the daughter of Harold and Edna (Fuhrman) Sieh. She grew up on a farm outside of Herrick, South Dakota. She attended school in Herrick and Burke, South Dakota. During high school, Lois was in the Job’s Daughters and served as Honored Queen. Lois was homecoming queen as a senior for Burke High School and graduated in 1964.
Lois was united in marriage to Norman Holmberg on Sept. 5, 1964, and began married life on a farm north of Dallas, South Dakota. During their forty-two-year marriage, three daughters were born: Cheryl in 1965, Carey in 1967, and Charlene in 1970.
Life on the farm was busy with raising chickens, maintaining a large garden, and raising three daughters. In 1970, they moved from the house on the hill down to the main farmhouse. Lois also enjoyed raising large flower gardens, cooking, decorating cakes, and sewing. Norman and Lois enjoyed card parties and going dancing with their friends.
Norman and Lois were members of the Gregory United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Ruth Circle, and a Sunday school teacher. Lois was an active member of band boosters while her three daughters were part of the band program at Gregory High School.
Lois was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years, originally initiated into Chapter 101 in Dallas, South Dakota, in 1967, with her final membership at Chapter 113 in Winner, South Dakota. She served a term as Worthy Matron. She was also Grand Esther of the Grand Chapter of Eastern Star in 1976 and Grand Representative of Florida from 1996 to 1998.
In 1977, Lois was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Lois took part in clinical trials for Betaseron – a medication that could reduce multiple sclerosis flare-ups. For several years, Lois was able to enjoy a remission from the severe symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Living more than half her life with this disease, Lois donated her body to science upon her death.
Norman passed away in May of 2006, and Lois moved into TLC Assisted Living Care Center in Burke. Lois resided here until August of 2011, when she moved to Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, South Dakota. She resided here until her passing on July 9, 2020 at the age of 74.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Norman, sister Ruth, brother-in-law Harry Wagner, grandson Vance Johnson, and nephew David Wagner.
Survivors are her children Cheryl (Wes) Bachman, Carey (Dwight) Johnson, Charlene (Matt) Johnson; four grandchildren: Christopher Lindquist, Shelby Johnson, Vaughan Johnson, and Layne Johnson; her brother Don (Connie) Sieh, sister Judith Sieh, and brother Charles (Nancy) Sieh. Many nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends also survive Lois.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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