Lois passed away early Monday morning at the Elm Heights Care Center.

Lois Eleanor Edgar was born September 6, 1922, in the Bethesda, Iowa, area. She passed away peacefully after a very brief illness on October 28, 2013, at the age of 91.

The daughter of Alvin and Mabel (Gustafson) Swanson, Lois was baptized as a baby in the Bethesda Lutheran Church, where she was confirmed on August 30, 1936. Lois attended the Excelsior country school in Tarkio Township and Hillcrest in Douglas Township. She graduated from Clarinda High School in 1940 and enjoyed her class reunions.

Lois was united in marriage to Stanley Edgar, Jr., of Clarinda on August 17, 1941, at the Christian Church in Maryville, Missouri. They were blessed with six children: James Lee, Shirley Ann, Sandra Kay, Susan Mae, and two children who died at birth, Joyce Ann and Dennis Stephen. She had one brother, Wayne Swanson.

While attending high school, she was employed at the Spurgeon's store in Clarinda. She was employed at the Clarinda Chamber of Commerce office after graduation and at the office of the Lisle Corporation while her husband was at sea in the Navy. When Stanley was stationed at bases in the United States, Lois worked for the civil service in Williamsburg, Virginia; Miami, Florida; and Galveston, Texas.

After the war, Lois and Stanley lived in Kansas City, Missouri, for two years. In 1947, the couple moved to Shenandoah, where Stanley was employed by the Iowa Power and Light Company. In 1963, Lois was employed by the Shenandoah High School as secretary to the principal, a position she held for 22 years. She enjoyed her work, and the students, teachers, and parents were all very special to her. She received the Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce "Employee of the Month Award" and was named an "Honorary Member of the FFA." The Shenandoah High School annual of 1973 was co-dedicated to Lois.

Lois and Stanley were members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Shenandoah since 1950. Lois was a Cub Scout den mother, a Girl Scout leader, and a Sunday-school teacher. She and Stanley enjoyed traveling and camping. They helped organize the Waubonsie Ramblers Camping Club, for which Lois was secretary. Their vacation home at Big Lake, Missouri, was enjoyed by the family for many years.

Lois was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed attending their programs and events. She was an expert seamstress, and in later years crocheted thousands of hot pads and dishcloths, which she generously gave away to friends and acquaintances.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents Alvin and Mabel Swanson, her in-laws Stanley, Sr., and Nina Edgar, her husband Stanley Edgar, Jr., her brother Wayne and sister-in-law Winifred Swanson, her son-in-law Martin Franks, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

She is survived by her son James Edgar and wife Cathryn of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter Shirley Lundgren and husband Gordon of Shenandoah; daughter Sandra Chesshire and husband Howard of Essex; and daughter Susan Jarrett of El Dorado Hills, California.

Grandchildren are Nichole (Edgar) Coons and husband Jason of Gardner, Kansas; Michelle (Edgar) Geary and husband Roger of Kansas City, Missouri; Charles Edgar and wife Melinda of Wagoner, Oklahoma; Cathryn (Edgar) Skoumal and husband Todd of Bennington, Nebraska; Kristen (Lundgren) Kaminski and husband Joe of Liberty, Missouri; Craig Lundgren and wife Jenne of Denver, Colorado; Tiffany (Franks) Sellers and husband John of Grand Island, Nebraska; Tracy (Franks) Gillespie and husband Shane of Rochester, Minnesota; Tobias Franks and wife Megan of San Diego, California; and Nicholas Jarrett and Paul Jarrett of Granite Bay, California.

Great-grandchildren are Ashlee Worthey, Cailyn Carter, Alexa King, and Leigha Coons of Gardner, Kansas; Cheyenne, Hayden, and Sierra Geary of Kansas City, Missouri; Kylie, Jaidyn, and Riley Edgar of Wagoner, Oklahoma; Austin, Cole, Bailey, and Gage Skoumal of Bennington, Nebraska; Alexis and Madison Kaminski of Liberty, Missouri; and Carlli and Carsten Sellers of Grand Island, Nebraska.