Lois Mitchell

Burial will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Gus, Iowa.
Memorials may be made in Lois Name.
Lois Darlene (Ridnour) Mitchell, youngest daughter of Joseph Rufus and Delphia Verda (Means) Ridnour, was born June 19, 1920 at her home in Adams County. Lois passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of eighty-eight years.
On February 26, 1940, Lois was united in marriage with Alvin Lawrence Mitchell at Earl May radio station in Shenandoah, Iowa. To this union four sons and two daughters were born.
Together they farmed northwest of Prescott, Iowa, soon moving back to Taylor County. In 1946 they purchased the Black Smith Shop in Gus, Iowa and in 1956 they moved back to the farm where their family could enjoy the country and where their hearts were.
All eight of them lived in a four room house with no running water or indoor plumbing. In 1966 it was a joy to have hot and cold running water and a bathroom! At one time, the only travel was a 1937 Chevrolet pickup that was packed into like sardines. There was lots of homemade bread and beans but there wasnt any complaining. In later years, Lois and Alvin moved to Creston.
In 1968, Lois and Alvin took square dancing lessons and had been avid square dancers ever since. Lois enjoyed calling square dances and gave lessons in the Corning area. She was a member of the Boots and Bows Square Dance Club in Corning, Southwest Iowa Callers Association, Kil Klar Klub, Helping Hand Club and the United Methodist Women of the Gus Methodist Church. She wasnt able to dance the last several years but sure enjoyed her time playing with the girls in the Southside Boosters Kitchen Band. Although her health kept her from dancing, she really enjoyed going to listen and watch dances and cherished all the sweet and dear square dance friends that stopped by to visit with her. She also cherished her visits from dear friend and neighbor, Dan Pine, who always called or stopped in to check on her.
Those left to cherish her memory are her four sons: Gary (Marilyn) Mitchell of Corning, Iowa, Lloyd (Karen) Mitchell of Stuart, Iowa, Darol (Pam) Mitchell of Lenox, Iowa and Joe (Sandy) Mitchell of Ottumwa, Iowa; two daughters: Ronda (Terry) Plowman and Monica (Gary) Briley, both of Creston, Iowa; thirty-four grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Paul (Osil) Mitchell of Corning, Iowa.
Preceding Lois in death was her husband, Alvin; her parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law; her father and mother-in-law and a great grandson, Jeramie Mitchell.