On a cold day in January Ewald and Myrtle (Imsland) Lebahn were patiently waiting for the birth of their 4th child. Would it be another boy after 3 older sons, Sidney, Kenneth and Maynard or would they finally have their first daughter so their family could be complete? Then a blizzard started on the 29th. Ewald decided it was time to bundle the family up and take them to his sister’s house – Amanda Abraham in Ramona, South Dakota seven miles from the dairy/small grain farm where Ewald was born and lived his whole life. He had to leave his little family in Ramona and returned to milk the cows while his first daughter Lois Inger Lebahn was born under the care of the local doctor. The blizzard lasted three days and on the 4th day, Ewald shoveled his way out of the farm to retrieve his family. Years later the little family grew with the birth of yet another boy, Douglas, and later another girl, Le Ann.
On March 25, 2026, Lois would lose her courageous battle with cancer at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, Montana after 10 years of treatment.
Lois went to a one room schoolhouse for her elementary years. She was an A student and loved to learn and went on to Graduate from Ramona High School where she continued receiving mostly A’s throughout her 4 years attendance. She began her long career at Bethel Lutheran Home and then at the Madison Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide and even delivered a baby all by herself when the doctor couldn’t get there in time. When her parents died she and Le Ann embarked on a multi-state trip to decide where to live. Finally, landing in Helena, Montana where brother Sid invited them to live with him and his family until they found an apartment of their own and jobs to begin her second career.
First, she worked at a clinic and then after taking secretarial classes, including shorthand from the State of Montana Learning Center. After completing the courses, she went to work for the Department of Health for the State of Montana and subsequently went to work for the Administration Department as a secretary and Security Officer for the next 30 plus years.
She loved to work but her vacation time was spent traveling with her sister and/or a friend from South Dakota or friends from Montana and a local travel club. Her travels took her to 16 European countries by bus, and a cruise to the Caribbean. Her sister traveled with her to Spain, Norway, Australia, German and Austria a couple of times, the last time she crossed off her bucket list with the Passion Play in Germany live performance. Before that she traveled to Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Croatia and the other Yugoslavia former states, Iceland and Canada. She traveled to almost every state in the lower 48 but also went to Hawaii numerous times.
Summers would find her gardening with her sister and Le Ann’s husband when they lived with her canning and freezing all types of vegetables. Crossword puzzles were saved for evenings and when she retired, she added daily walks to her weight training exercise and jogging regime ending her walks with Neighbor Donna Hoffman for a cup or 2 of coffee and gossip. This continued until she was too weak to walk very far.
She was a long-time member of First Lutheran Church in Helena, Montana attending almost every Sunday singing in the choir until she lost her singing voice due to cancer radiation. While the Big Sky Singers existed, she loved singing with them.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Maynard Lebahn and Douglas Lebahn of South Dakota, Kenneth Lebahn of Missouri, brother-in-law James Ferron, Sisters-in-law Mary Ann, Karen, Delores and Flora and Donna Hoffman friend and D’et Miskneman.
She is survived by her brother Sidney of Helena, and sister Le Ann of East Helena. Nieces and nephews – Nita, SD, Tim (Pat), Wes (Amy) of Missouri, Dean (Marian) Louisiana, Sheila (Steve) Texas, Dawn Poirier AZ, Cathy (Jeff) Dillon, Rob (Dawn) Helena, Lori, Diane, Eugene, Melanie, Mike and Angie SD. Best friends Dorothy and Tim Cail. Dorothy drove her to most of her cancer treatments and medical appointments she is more like a sister than just a friend and we are forever grateful for her support. Other people supportive in her cancer journey are Robin and Tom Steber, Bonnie Nelson and Lory Morrow.
Cremation has taken place and burial will be at St John’s Lutheran Church in rural SD near Ramona where she was confirmed and began her Christian journey.
Memorial will take place at a later date. Memorials can be sent to First Lutheran Church on Broadway or the American Cancer Society.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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StoneCarlsons of Helena says
To Sid , your sister LeAnn and familes all,
we send our sincere sympathies in loss
of your beloved sibling Lois Lebahn.
What a wonderful storied life she lived & so
world traveled she was & very well documented here.
Sid , you , her brother I was privileged to work for you as my supervisor in Montana’s Ag Statistical Service during my employ there in 80’s. As a phone survey enumerator & part-time radio report administer of Agricultural releases to radio stations across the state we teamed well together under your professional leadership & during senior career years there. Under your lead, Sid, our team increased Mt farm survey completion rates sometimes going from 33% to 89%!
Later visiting with your sister, Lois at Lutheran events we shared and touted our team’s successes working with her big brother much to her delight. And with her saying she ” had nothing but smart people in the family that could count” and with a grin she added : “especially livestock and predators.”
She will be surely be missed by all but will be heartly greeted by family already gone on to the great beyond.
May you carry best of memories in your 💕hearts forever knowing additionally some of us still use your Lois’ and your Mary Ann’s recipes gifted us thru the years & may all RiP.
Blessings all,
Carol Stone Carlson
Ps: for Sid you may remember lotsa laughs were had @ Mt.Ag offices over a DJ at a rural Eastern Mt radio station.
When we called him and asked if he was busy or could he please take our weekly Ag report recording to air later he famously responded always:
“Well, I hesitate to tell you but I’m busier than a ten tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs but , yes mam, I can take your call.”
After repeated phone visits we knew his jungle by heart!
(Ha…Some rural fellows even count cat’s tails!)
🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈🪑🐈
🎶 Those were the days my friends …
…we thought they’d never end! 🎵
Amanda Broadwater says
What a wonderful tribute to Lois and her adventure-filled life! I’m glad she’s not suffering anymore, and sorry you’re hurting, Le Ann – sending love and hugs to you and yours during this painful time.