Obituary of Lois Spence
Obituary for Lois Spence, October 17, 1931 – February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, Lois Isobel Spence (nee Weston) passed away, 15 years after a diagnosis of dementia. Lois lived a long, interesting life, often expressing gratitude for her many blessings, even after the dementia had diminished so many of her strengths.
Lois was predeceased by: her parents, Joe and Lizzie Weston; siblings, Jean, Evelyn and Keith; brother-in-law, Frank Tuplin; her husband, Richard James Spence; and his parents, Alice (nee Jones) and Richard Lawrence Spence; sister-in-law, Anne; and brother-in-law, Walter Utri.
Lois is survived by: her daughter, Marina Spence Jeffery (Steve) of Regina, SK; son, Stephen Spence (Maxine) of Didsbury, AB; four grandchildren, Quinn and Hope Jeffery, Gabriel and Jacob Spence; sister-in-law, Joyce Weston; and 11 nieces and nephews from the Weston, Tuplin and Utri families.
Lois was born in Maidstone, SK and attended Birling School in that area; many years later she worked with others to place a historic schoolhouse marker on the site. After school and early jobs in Maidstone, Lois worked as a telephone operator in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, then returned to take a commercial course in Lloydminster and worked there at a real estate and insurance agency for a time. She married Richard Spence Jr. from Paynton in 1957, and together they farmed, raised two children, and enjoyed community life for almost 40 years. As well as working as a farm partner, she drove school bus, prepared income tax returns, worked in the local credit union for many years, at the RM Office, and as manager for the Paynton Housing Authority.
Lois had many interests and commitments. She had a strong Christian faith and was an active supporter of Paynton Knox United Church and the United Church Women, as well as serving on regional church councils. She was musical – she grew up singing with her dad and uncles, played accordion in her youth and in later life taught herself the electric organ; she sang in the church choir, and enjoyed square- and old-time dancing with Richard. They both enjoyed travel and fortunately did not wait for their senior years to see a lot of Canada, the southern USA and Hawaii. Lois was an avid gardener, expert in growing vegetables, flowers and trees. She read widely; enjoyed sewing, quilting, curling, golfing, cross-country skiing, camping; and loved nature and wildlife, especially birds. Over the years, she served on organizations like the Paynton school and recreation boards, the curling club, Twin Rivers Health Region, and the local wellness and seniors’ centre. In her retirement she gave more time to her love of painting with acrylics and watercolours. After Richard died in 1997, Lois adapted and carried on, for example, driving to Battleford to take clogging dance classes. “Gran” delighted in her grandchildren and often drove to Alberta and Regina for visits. She flew to England to visit relatives and friends, and took tours to the Maritimes, Yukon and Alaska. She moved to Lloydminster in 2001, where she attended Grace United, kept curling and golfing, and volunteered at the Jubilee Care Home.
At early signs of dementia, Lois made a practical decision to move to Regina to be near family. She rented an apartment near a shopping centre, gave up her driver’s license and walked everywhere she needed, including to Sunset United Church, and to volunteer at Elmview Extendicare until she could no longer manage that. She inspired us in the way she both accepted her disease and fought against it.
Our family gives heartfelt thanks to all of Mom’s health care teams in Regina – most recently, the Santa Maria Senior Citizen’s Home, and in past years Pioneer Village, the Wascana Rehab Dementia Unit, Elmview Extendicare, and Bright Water Residence.
A service will be held on April 20, 2 pm at Sunset United Church in Regina (to be livestreamed and recorded) and interment will occur at the Paynton Cemetery in May. Donations in memory of Lois are gratefully accepted to the Bresaylor Museum at Box 33 Paynton, SK S0M 2J0 or the United Church Mission and Service Fund.
