Lois Houkom

Lois Edith Houkom, 89, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 at Oakwood Good Samaritan Home in Brainerd, MN. Lois was born March 23rd, 1923 in Brocket, North Dakota and graduated from Central High School in 1941. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1944 from the University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks. Lois was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority while attending UND and remained active through the years. After graduation she worked as a Stewardess flying for United Airlines in 1945, based out of Chicago, Illinois. She was passionate about her love of airplanes, aviation and flying throughout her life. She married Duane Allan Houkom, Sr. in 1946 traveling stateside while he was in the Army Air Corp., later living in Colorado, Tennessee and New Jersey before returning to Grand Forks in 1958. They were later divorced in 1961. Her teaching career began at the Grand Forks Air Force Base instructing servicemen while pursuing higher education. She received her Master of Science Degree in English and Business Education in 1970 at the University of North Dakota. She moved with her family to St. Cloud, Minnesota and taught Business Education at the St. Cloud Technical College for seven years. Lois was also active as UND Alumni, a member of the Grand Forks Women's Club and University Lutheran Church. She enjoyed her time writing poetry, vacationing in Bemidji, Minnesota and had a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Lois is survived by her son Duane Allan Houkom, Jr., MN; daughter Sally Baumgartner (Jeff), Pequot Lakes, MN; daughter Diane Ellen Field, Bloomington, MN and grandchildren Kendall Baumgartner (Josh Flaten), Dallas, TX; Jonathan Field, MN and Kathryn Field, Minneapolis, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, mother, Thora (Torkelson) Bina, father, Stanley Joseph Bina and former husband Duane Allan Houkom, Sr. Memorials will be donated to Lois' favorite charities.