Lois Mardel (Skaggs) Newman, 82, of Wilton died on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.
She was born on May 4, 1931, on the Sioux Reservation at Wambalee, S.D., to Clifford and Freda (Emery) Skaggs. She was raised by T.L. (Toby) Devine and Freda Devine in her beloved South Dakota and later in Wilton. She was united in marriage to George B. Newman on Sept. 6, 1969.
Lois worked for Hanson’s SuperJack and Weber’s Studio in Tomah. She ran several Kickapoo gas stations in Wisconsin and was a bookkeeper for Monroe County Senior Services for many years. She was an assessor, clerk for Town of Wilton and treasurer for Wilton Fire Department, plus she served on the Wilton Library Board and Monroe County Senior Services Board. She was a member of Faith Congregational Church in Wilton. She loved living on the prairies of South Dakota. She loved flowers, crocheting, reading and making beautiful quilts for her family.
She is survived by her husband, George B. Newman; one son, Allan (Dianne) Wildes of New Holland, Penn.; six daughters, Sharon (Radar) Matt of Phoenix, Connie (John) Majerus of Stoddard, Dawn (Mike) Bastian of Tomah, Denise (Mike) Hoppe of Glendale, Ariz., Cindy (Philip ) Puent of Camp Douglas, and Jill (Brock) Larson of Camp Douglas; one brother, Larry (Donna) Devine of Janesville; two sisters, Joyce (Dick) Garvoille and Virginia Faulkner of Genoa, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Karen Devine of Sparta; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Helen (Robert) Stieves, Clara (Bob) Haldeman and Elaine Devine; two brothers, Glen Skaggs and Douglas Devine; a granddaughter, Heather Beckler; and two nieces and two brothers-in-law.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Faith Congregational Church, 502 Enderby St., Wilton. Pastor Ben Janzen will officiate. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Wilton. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
