Lois Jean Zerfas, 94, of Madison, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview, in Brookings.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, in Madison. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with a Liturgical Wake Service followed by a Rosary beginning at 7:00 pm. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be directed to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
Lois Jean Natz was born to Christian Bonaventure and Martha Henrietta (Meyer) Natz in Sioux Falls on March 14, 1924.
Lois grew up and attended school in Sioux Falls, graduating from St. Joseph’s Cathedral High School in 1942. After high school, she worked at Koplow’s in Sioux Falls with her sister Zita Brandenburg.
Lois was united in marriage to Robert Leo Zerfas on March 17th, 1945 while Robert was on leave from the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Lois and Bob made their home in Watertown, where they raised 13 children: seven boys and six girls. In 1968, Lois and Bob moved their family to Madison, SD where Lois was a stay at home mom. In 1972, Lois went to work for Spies Super Value when her husband had to medically retire. She worked for them before retiring in 1992 after twenty years of employment.
Upon retirement, Lois helped out at Splash and Dash Car Wash where she was their bookkeeper. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Bob and her children, along with grandchildren, great -grandchildren and great-great grandchildren were the most important part of her life.
Lois showed her children how to love unconditionally and how to be your very best in all you do. She gave her all to God and her family, never once stopping to think about herself. Her children could always find Lois reading her Bible or saying prayers from her favorite prayer book. Every moment she could spend with her children and grandchildren were precious times.
Lois’s family includes her children: Collette Broveleit of Howard, SD, Gregory (LouAnn) Zerfas of Sioux Falls, SD, Daniel (Terry) Zerfas of Sioux Falls, SD, Thomas (Stephanie) Zerfas of Aberdeen, SD, Colleen (Ralph) Janssen of Ripon, WI, Michelle (Ken) Workowski of Viola, WI, Douglas (Noi) Zerfas of Baltimore, MD, David (Ann) Zerfas of Madison, SD, Francine (Royston) Zerfas-Coppenger of Brooklyn, NY, Annette (Craig) Miller of Madison, SD, Paulette (Mike) Janssen of Princeton, WI, Mark (Lisa) Zerfas of Sioux Falls, SD, Andrew (Laura) Zerfas of Brookings, SD; her three brothers, Bill Natz (Joan) of Sun City, AZ, Bob Natz of Sioux Falls, SD and Kit Natz (Marilyn) of St. Paul, MN; her 26 grandchildren, 22 great -grandchildren and 1 great- great-grandchild along with several nieces and nephews.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Martha; her step-mother, Orpha Natz; her husband, Robert; three sisters, Vivian Butolph and her husband Earl, Eunice Zerfas and her husband Emmett and Zita Brandenburg and her husband Paul; one brother, Cletus Natz and his wife Marge; one son-in-law, Jerry Broveleit, and one sister-in-law, Betty Natz.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
