Lois Lorraine Kruse went home to celebrate in the presence of her Lord and Savior on December 15, 2025.

Lois was born April 16, 1938 in St Paul, MN to Fred and Minnie Enke, where she grew up as the youngest of 3 children. She used to watch the nieces and nephews of her two older brothers.

Lois met Marlin at Happy's in Hinckley. They were married on September 19, 1959 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hinckley, MN. They celebrated 56 years of marriage before Marlin passed away in January of 2016. The couple lived in St. Paul for several years near Lois's brothers, and Marlin worked for her brother Ray. They moved to Hinckley to raise their young family in 1964-65, where Lois was a homemaker. They initially lived in town, and later they bought the Kruse family farm. We used to laugh about this as she often told us, "I went to the bank on my lunch to talk about the future of the property, and literally bought the farm."  Hard work and long hours were put in by her as she worked alongside Marlin on the farm even after working her jobs. Lois was involved in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, serving as a member of the altar committee and cleaning the church for many years. Her children were brought along to assist in the cleaning and to learn to be reverent to God in his house. Lois was also a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Ladies Aid, and did what was needed to support both the church, and its members as they served others. Lois used to meet women in the community at their homes to encourage them while she sold Avon to supplement the family income.

After her children were in school, Lois worked as a bookkeeper, and she was a part of the kitchen staff at Cassidy's. She later worked in sales and bookkeeping at the Midland Coop in Hinckley before her final employment at the Hinckley Holiday Station. Lois retired at the age of 81, and missed her customers, and they missed her as well.

Lois has been a blessing to her family, her church, and her community. It was her goal to show love and kindness to everyone she met as Jesus did. Lois had many who called her "Mom" and she loved them all. She loved to spend time with family, and adored her grandkids. Lois loved to travel to Alaska to be with family, and she even got Marlin to go a couple times after he said he never would, and he loved it.

Lois's hobbies included gardening, feeding and watching birds in the backyard-a past time both she and Marlin enjoyed, and shared with the grandkids when they came to visit. She was also an amazing cross stitcher of baby blankets/quilts. She would stitch the design and her daughters would finish them with her. One year she tied 6 quilts with Lynn for her children in the month before Christmas. It was so appreciated by the grandkids that she took part in that, and the time spent together doing it was priceless. Many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren still have those baby quilts.

Lois had many close friends and neighbors that she loved to spend time with, and she was always looking to bless someone with her baking and cooking. Christmas will not be the same without her famous peanut brittle and fudge. Lois had always been a great encourager, both to loved ones and strangers alike, and she shared her faith and love of Jesus through her caring actions and kind words.

Lois is survived by her 5 children. Lynn Kruse of Bemidji MN, Jerome of Hinckley MN, Gail (Tim) Kunst of Duluth MN, Carla (Al) Toering of Hinckley MN, and Julie (Scott) Olson of North Pole AK. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband Marlin, her granddaughter Erica, her parents Fred and Minnie Enke, her 2 brothers Ray and Harold. Marlin's parents-Carl and Augusta Kruse, as well as several nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and beloved friends.

Services for Lois will be Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 11:00AM at St Paul Lutheran Church in Hinckley, Minnesota.  There will be a visitation on Friday, December 19 from 5:00PM-7:00PM at the church.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services, Tatting Methven Chapel, Hinckley, Minnesota www.methvenfuneralhome.com