Lois Dawn Volkema Blanchard

Lois Dawn Volkema Blanchard of Redmond, WA was welcomed into Heaven on January 6, 2026. She was 99.5 years old. She was born Lois Dawn DeGrasse on June 17, 1926 in Eagle Rock, CA to Howard and Fay DeGrasse. Howard was an electrician and Fay ran Howard’s Electric Shop.

Lois graduated in 1948 from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. with a B.S degree in Secondary Education and Bible. There she met her future husband, Fred Volkema. They were married on April 15, 1949 by legendary pastor Harry MacArthur.

In her early career (1949-1954) she taught school in Brawley, CA and Montebello, CA. Lois and Fred decided to move 500 miles north to get out of Los Angeles. They settled in Quincy, CA where they both taught school. They raised 3 children, Donald (d. 2010), Helen (d. 2004) and Karen. Lois taught 2nd and 3rd grades in Room 9 at Quincy Elementary from 1961-1981. She often played the teaching record “Peter and the Wolf” during the music segment of the day. Lois was a loved and well-respected educator and had numerous friends.

Lois enjoyed gardening, cooking (she tried new recipes each week to surprise her family) and sewing matching dresses for her and her two daughters. She adamantly loved learning and listening to Christian “Family Radio” while she sewed.

After Fred passed away in 1976, she moved to WA state and enjoyed attending Crossroads Bible Church where she also served as a deaconess. She married John F. Blanchard, Jr. (d. 2006) and enjoyed travelling with him to research genealogy. After moving in to Emerald Heights Retirement Center in Redmond, WA she met Bill Dumar Jr. (d. 2019) while doing a puzzle near her building’s elevator! They enjoyed 5 years of marriage. Lois outlived three husbands. She was certain that God kept her around all these decades to continue daily prayer for her family members and for our nation. I thank God for gracing my life with a mother who loved her Lord, her children, and set a pattern of faithfulness to the truth to the end. Until she went to Heaven her life was a model of integrity and grace. We miss her presence and love greatly every day.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Lillibridge (David) of Windsor, CO, her daughter-in-law, Marsha Volkema, and grandchildren Michelle, Laura, Stephanie (Eddie), Jeff.

She is predeceased by her husband, Frederick R. Volkema (d. 1976), John F. Blanchard, Jr. (d. 2006), and Bill Dumar Jr. (d. 2019), by her sisters Roberta (d. 2018) and Yola (d. 2023) her children, Helen (d. 2004), and Donald (d. 2010) and her grandson Bryan (d. 2005.)

A celebration of life for Lois will take place at a later date.