Lois Gayken, 87

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 3, 2009

The funeral service for Lois E. Gayken will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Glenville. The Rev. Krista Stokke will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.
Lois died on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea. She was 87.
Lois Elizabeth was born on July 18, 1922, in Erie, Pa., the daughter of Chris and Johanna (Bach) Bonnerup. She was baptized in Erie. As a young girl her family moved to the Albert Lea area and she was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.
She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1941. On April 30, 1944, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Gayken, together they shared more than 65 year together.
She had worked for Wilson and Company, but her heart was with her family; she loved making a loving home for them.
She was a member of the Eagles Club, the “Birthday Club” and enjoyed dancing, cooking and travel.
Lois will be lovingly missed by her family, husband, Kenneth Gayken, of Albert Lea; four children: Richard L. Gayken and his wife Julie of St. Cloud, Ronald A. Gayken of Glenville, Pamela S. Haayer of Wyoming and Mark K. Gayken and his wife Marcia of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Angela Gayken Haus and her husband Darren, Jon Gayken and his wife Maria, Jennifer Haayer Brandell and her husband Roger, Adam Haayer and his wife Summer, Molly Haayer, Darcie Gayken, Kelly Talamantes and her husband Steve; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Florence Brezenski of Albert Lea; sisters- in-law: Violet Pyka of Minneapolis, Maxine Bonnerup Bye and Velma Bonnerup of Albert Lea; and several nieces and nephews.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents: Chris and Joanna; son-in-law, Herman Haayer; daughter-in-law, Janene Gayken; granddaughter, Jessica Gayken; brothers: Donald Bonnerup, Richard (Bud) Bonnerup, Norman Bonnerup and Charles Bonnerup; sisters: Doris (Harold) Broitzman, Ruby Baumgartner and Ester Falksen; brothers-in-law: Frank Brezenski and Orville Gayken; and sister-in-law, Fern Sorenson.
Her family was the pride and joy of her life and she so cherished all the memories made with Kenneth, her children, and grandchildren. Lois will be greatly missed by her loving family and many friends.