March 30, 1927 – March 7, 2020

Lois Henderson, 92, of La Grande, Oregon, died Saturday, March 7, 2020, at home with her family at her side. A traditional graveside service will be held Friday, March 13, 2020, at 1 p.m. at the Summerville Cemetery in Summerville, Oregon. A reception will be held immediately following the service at the Imbler Christian Church.

Lois was born March 30, 1927, in La Grande, Oregon, to parents John and Treasa (Brown) DeFries. She was raised and educated there along with 13 sisters and 3 brothers.

Lois met her husband, Howard Henderson, while she was working on the Kennel family farm. They were married on October 28, 1948, and had 7 children together, which they raised on the Henderson family farm.

Lois worked various jobs throughout her life. While still in high school she worked for Synden’s grocery store until her marriage. In January 1980 after 31 years of marriage, Howard passed away. Lois went back to school and earned her GED. From there she attended business school in La Grande and began a job working for the U.S. Forest Service Experiment Station. Soon after, she moved to Walla Walla, Washington, to help her brother take care of their mother. After her mother passed away, her brother became ill and she took care of him until his death.

Lois cherished spending time with family and doing activities. She enjoyed spending time volunteering at the Union County Senior Center. She loved quilting and enjoyed gardening. In her younger years she played ladies league volleyball and was an active member of the Union County Cowbells during the late 60s early 70s.

She will be remembered for her value as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We will miss her homemade ice cream and holiday caramel corn and all the treats she made at Christmas. It brought great joy to all.

Lois is survived by her daughters, Peggy Tuma of Seattle, WA, and Linnea (Rick) Denis of Imbler, OR; sons, Steve Henderson of Imbler, OR, David (Pam) Henderson of La Grande, OR, and Andy (Julie) Henderson of Cove, OR; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Pat Sansburn, Myrtle Halley, Reba Moore, Frieda Beach, Roxa Isitt, Joyce Walker and Marcheta Ingstrom; special niece Durinda (Ron) Henderson Mann.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; son Dan and daughter Patty Henderson; grandsons, Daniel and Jared Henderson; brothers, John, Charles and Delbert DeFries; sisters Helen Kenneda, Nadine Wood, Donna Weber, Judy Gilbert, Wanda Allison and Barbara Ackerman.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Lois, the family suggests either Doernbecher Children’s Hospital or Grande Ronde Hospice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.