Lois Jane Gifford

Lois Jane (Ula) Gifford, age 86 of Blanchardville died on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at her home in Blanchardville. Lois was born on May 13, 1939, the daughter of James Erland & Lillian Adelaide (Kittleson) Ula, and was raised on a farm 5 miles east of Blanchardville on Hay Hollow Road. She went to grade school, and high school in Blanchardville. Lois married Richard “Dick” Allen Gifford on November 10, 1956 at the York Memorial Lutheran Church. Lois and Dick were married for 65 years, and lived their entire married life in Blanchardville where they raised their three children. Lois loved cooking, music and entertaining family and friends. She also enjoyed her many flowers, playing cards, and belonged to a 500 club and a Horse & Pepper club. Many enjoyed her excellent musical talent, she was a past church organist, choir accompanist, choir director, and piano teacher. She was a member of a singing trio at many church functions with her mother and Doris Rear Hustad. Lois was a member of the red hatters in Blanchardville and later in Argyle. She enjoyed making pies for the farmers market in town and the local Grapevine cafe. She was a member of the York Memorial Lutheran Church where she was a past church secretary, and was employed by the local grocery store and later was a bookkeeper for the Blanchardville Co-Op Oil Association. She also did home care for the elderly before retiring. Lois especially loved her family, husband and children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, attending many of their events. Another one of her great loves was her cat, Peanut. Lois ran the popcorn stand on Main Street in Blanchardville for a few years. She also enjoyed her friends at the morning ladies restaurant group in Blanchardville. A rainy day was often a great day for Lois and Dick to go to Dubuque to enjoy the casino. She always had coffee ready for anyone who would drop in.

Lois is survived by her three children, Kathy (Jeff) Johnsen of Darlington, Carol Gifford of Syracuse, New York, and Ronald Gifford (Hope Cottington) of Blue Mounds; five grandchildren, Jeremy Vangsness of Rockford, Illinois, Nicole (Andy) Kurth of Blue Mounds, Aaron (Jillian) Gifford of Blanchardville, Ellie (Kyle) Lyne of Blanchardville, and Ashley (Randall) Freymiller of Argyle, and eleven great-grandchildren, Blake and Emily Vangsness, Dawson, Logan and Adalynn Kurth, Brooke and Quinn Gifford, Boone and Grady Lyne, and William and Lillian Freymiller. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick who died on January 15, 2022, and her daughter-in-law, Vicki Gifford who died in 2003. All the neighbors were so good to Lois, especially Chuck and Ben Meyer, Joanne Wainwright and Kathy Plaskey, and Mary Erickson who frequently gave Lois rides and was a close friend. The family would also like to thank Agrace and Dr. Michelle Roelli.

A visitation for Lois Gifford will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at Blanchard Hall at 204 South Main Street in Blanchardville. During the Main Street construction, parking and entry in the back entrance off the Blanchard Hall patio is suggested. A funeral service will be held on Monday morning, May 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the York Memorial Lutheran Church at the intersections of highways 78 and 39 north of Blanchardville. The service will be livestreamed on the Saether Funeral Service Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/saetherfuneralservice

Rev. Chris Strohm will officiate. Burial will be in the York Memorial Cemetery. Saether Funeral Service of Blanchardville is assisting the family. Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at saetherfuneralservice.com.