Lois Yake

Celebration of Life: from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Monday, March 15, 2004 at the Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Gillette, Wyoming.

Lois Yake, age 75, of Gillette, Wyoming, died Friday, March 12, 2004 at the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Gillette of natural causes.

Lois was born April 7, 1928, the daughter of Irene May (Deaver) and Sylvan Ingwerson Peterson in Maysdorf, Wyoming (22 miles south of Gillette). Lois grew up in Gillette, Wyoming attending elementary school at the Wyodak Country School and graduating from Campbell County High School in Gillette. Upon graduation, she went to Chicago, Illinois to be of assistance during her sisters pregnancy. While in Chicago, she met Henry Oliver Yake. On August 19, 1945, they were married in Sylvan and Irenes front yard in Gillette, Wyoming. They lived in Gillette until 1947 then moved to Kettle Falls, Washington. They returned to Gillette in 1956. Lois worked at the Campbell County Treasurers office until 1967, when they moved to Pinedale, Wyoming. In Pinedale, she worked at the Sublette County Treasurers office and as the Sublette County Clerk. In 1998, they purchased acreage 23 miles northwest of Bemidji, Minnesota. They returned to Gillette in February of 2004.Lois was a very patient and giving person.

Everyone who knew Lois also knew her great sense of humor. She loved all animals and the great outdoors. Lois especially enjoyed anything to do with horses. As a child, she spent most of every summer on her Grandpa and Grandma Deavers homestead, riding every day and bringing the milk cows in at night. Lois had many talents including bronze sculpting, silver smithing and jewelry making, wood burning, drawing and sewing. One of her latest achievements was to become an accomplished oil painter. One of her paintings was selected for the Wyoming Governors traveling art exhibition.

Lois is survived by her husband, Henry of fifty-eight years; a sister, Shirley Clements of Sheridan, Wyoming; three sons: Henry Jay Yake of Yakima, Washington; Sylvan Lee Yake of Gillette, Wyoming; Garry Dean Yake of Casper, Wyoming; eleven grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Betty (McKay) Jeske.