Lois Strohmaier

Lois Marian (Ottmar) Strohmaier died at the age of 83 on Aug. 14 in Spokane, after fighting a courageous battle against leukemia.

She was born on Sept. 19, 1929, to Jacob and Barbara Ottmar and grew up on the family farm near Tokio. She graduated from Ritzville High School in 1947 and attended WSU for one year.

She married Clarence Strohmaier on Sept. 19, 1948, on her 19th birthday, and they would have celebrated their 65th anniversary in September. Together they ran the family farm near Lind and were very active members in the community.

She was an amazing cook and loved entertaining and hosting dinners for her family and friends. She cooked for the harvest crew for 40 years, trying new recipes and hauling the lunches out to the fields. She and Clarence also spent many happy years at their Priest Lake home; boat rides, happy hours, and sunsets were some of Lois’ favorite times of day. She spent lots of time sharing family stories and genealogy with her children and grandchildren.

She was a member of the Lind Community Church, Woman’s Fellowship, and Tredecim Club. She loved to travel, play golf, and snowmobile with family and friends. She enjoyed playing cards, reading, watching sports on TV and tending to her flower garden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Barbara; and brother, Arlo Ottmar.

She is survived by her husband, Clarence; sons, Greg (Jan) Strohmaier of Washougal, Wash., Kent (Susie) Strohmaier of Lind, and Blake Strohmaier of Spokane; grandchildren, Jacob, Kiely, and Shane Strohmaier; step-granddaughters, Amy (Dave) Hawthorne, Kristen (Mike) Lauerman; and step-great grandchildren, Myles and Summer Hawthorne, and James, Anna, and Brooke Lauerman; sister-in-law, Oletis Michel; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Lind Community Church, immediately followed by a lunch reception at the Lind Grange Hall.

An additional memorial will be held at Priest Lake at Outlet Bay on Aug. 31 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Lind Senior Center at PO Box 345 Lind, WA 99341; or to the Spokane Hospice House at 121 S Arthur Spokane, WA 99202.