Lois Doreen Groft, 90, of Redfield, SD, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield.  As per her wishes, she was cremated and a private committal will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield (www.hykefuneralhome.com).
Lois was born on March 17, 1934, in Northville, SD to Floyd and Esther (Meehan) Groft.
The family lived north of Athol, SD until 1947, when they moved to the farm west of Athol on Dove Creek, the place she loved.
Lois attended school in Athol, graduating in 1952. She then attended the Aberdeen School of Commerce, graduating in 1953. She worked for a brief time in Aberdeen, SD, followed by 36 years for the Spink County Extension Service in Redfield.
She attended the Athol Congregational United Church of Christ until it closed, teaching Sunday School for many years and helping with many church activities there. Following the closure of the Athol Church, she transferred to the Redfield UCC Church.
Following her retirement in 1993, she did some office cleaning and volunteered for a time at the Tri-County Food Pantry in Redfield.
She loved children. Her nieces and nephews were a very important part of her life, as later were her great and great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Mike; and her sister and brother-in-law, Ileen and Bill Tennyson.
Surviving are her sister-in-law, Marilyn Groft; nieces - Brenda Gillaspy, Sheila (David) Hansen, and Marla Shahan; nephews - Gordon Groft, Travis Groft, Derek (Cathy) Groft, and Ron (Melissa) Tennyson and her beloved great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Our Aunt Lois was always devoted to us, her faith, and her communities. We will greatly miss her but remember all she was and gave to us.