Lois Schwinefus, 96, of Spring Valley and formerly of Ostrander and Albert Lea passed away Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley. There will be a short memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday following the visitation. A memorial service and burial will take place later in the spring in Albert Lea.

Lois was born to Bernard and Doris (Cooper) Pleiss on Oct. 27, 1922, in Albert Lea. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. Lois married William Taylor on Oct. 26, 1941. They had one daughter, Katherine “Kitty” Taylor, in 1944. Lois and William later divorced.

Lois was very proud to live in Albert Lea and was an active citizen, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school at First Lutheran Church and being a member of the Parent Teacher Association. Her dedication to the town resulted in her getting a key to the city — something she was very proud to have. She later owned The Furniture Mart with C.L. Minehart and worked many years for Interstate Power Co.

On June 26, 1964, Lois married Robert “Bob” Schwinefus and moved to Ostrander. They had one son, Jay Schwinefus, in 1966. Lois and Bob spent a lot of their time raising Arabian horses and established Hi-Fashion Arabians together with Gerald Flaby.

She is survived by daughter, Katherine (Wayne) Mortensen, of Chaska; son, Jay (Missy) Schwinefus, of Spring Valley; grandchildren Joshua (Pat) Mortensen, Jeffery (Mary) Mortensen, Laney Schwinefus and Haley Schwinefus; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce (Fred) Kinney, of Kearney, Missouri; brother-in-law, Darrell Huber; sisters-in-law Roselyn (Ray) Engel and Janice Schwinefus; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob; brother, Robert (Ruth) Pleiss; sisters Dorothy (Harvey) Herman and Janet Huber; brothers-in-law Kenneth (Helen) Schwinefus, Don (Virginia) Schwinefus, Dick Schwinefus and Donald Rollie; and sister-in-law, Shirley (Delroy) Des Marais.

The family would like to thank the staff of Spring Valley Living for taking wonderful care of Lois for the last years of her life.

Lois’ smile, friendship and love for cookies will be missed by many.

Condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.