Lois Jean Lawrence

Lois was born April 1st, 1934 to Claus Elmer Hartwigsen and Viola Brown Hartwigsen in Glidden, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm in the Glidden area. After Lois graduated from Glidden High School, she went on to study Early Childhood Education at Vennard College in University Park, Iowa.

After graduation with a degree in Early Childhood Education, she started her first job in a children’s home in Everett, Washington as a house mom. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in Seattle where she met the love of her life, Dale Lawrence. They were married in 1958. Lois and Dale went on to have four children: Jean, Judy, Bob, and Vicky.

Lois enjoyed her time cooking, playing with her grandkids, traveling to Idaho or Colorado to visit her children and grandkids. She enjoyed reading and spending time with her family. And assisting Dale with the family adventures and camping trips. Her adventurous spirit carried over to the wild water fights hosted at the Lawrence home! She enjoyed going on walks with her children and friends. She spent many evenings watching the sunsets with Dale over the Puget Sound gazing at the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. She and Dale enjoyed playing games like Rook & Pictionary with friends and family. Lois enjoyed mornings sipping coffee and hot chocolate with her son-in laws when they visited.

Lois loved being a homemaker and sharing her gift of hospitality to so many. Lois loved Christmas and all that came with the true meaning of Christmas. Her Christmas tea ring was always a tremendous hit! She loved spending time watching the ocean, whether it was on the sandy beach or a cold, rainy day watching the surf break over a rocky coastline in Washington and Oregon. For decades, her Sunday Dinners were a great blessing to her family and friends. The joy of her life was serving her children and grandchildren.

Lois loved Jesus, serving Him in all areas of her life. She and Dale used their gifts to serve in the Olympic Hills Church of the Nazarene in many ways for nearly 30 years. She also started a Good News Club in her home that ministered to many children in her neighborhood, including her own. She received the blessing of having Good News Club participants return to her later in life as adults reporting to her about how Jesus impacted their lives because of that Good News Club she hosted! Lois and Dale later attended Aurora Nazarene Church. She enjoyed her time studying the Bible while participating in Bible Study Fellowship and later serving the children of BSF participants.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents Claus and Viola, her siblings Erma, Wayne, Verna, Ester and Ardith. She is survived by her husband Dale Lawrence; her children, Jean Binkley (Keith), Judy Lewis (Ken), Bob Lawrence (Sherry) and Vicky Holmes (Ed); as well as her 8 grandchildren Brieanna, McKenna, Sarah, Daniel, Kit, Ben, Nate and Joy; and 6 great grandchildren Daxton, Gracie, Emma, Rosemary, Apollos and Jane.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Northlake Community Church on January 10, 2026, at 2pm.