RAPID CITY | Lois Mae Ewert passed away at home the evening of Dec. 12, 2016. Her family was with her as she passed peacefully to be with husband Louis on the big dance floor above. She was 86.

Lois Mae Aby, the first born child of Perry C. and Irma M (Masek) Aby, was born on Sept. 13, 1930, in New Underwood. Her father was a Railroad Foreman and they moved around central SD living in New Underwood, Wendt, Canning and other places. She graduated from Blunt High School in 1948.

She met Louis H. Ewert her husband to be and dancing partner for life while working on the Harry Williams' farm near Blunt, where Louis also worked. They were married on Dec. 21 1949 (because her husband said it was the shortest day of the year, which made for the longest night!). They had four children, Leon, Darlene, Sandra and Starr.

They farmed near Canning and after the terrible blizzards of 50-51 and 51-52, they sold the farm and moved to the Canyon Lake/Cleghorn Canyon area in Rapid City, where Louis entered the construction life and Lois was a stay-at-home wife and mother. In 1960, they moved to the home they lived in for the rest of their lives at Hidden Valley just northwest of Rapid City.

Lois became an avid bowler in 1960 and was inducted into the Rapid City Women's Bowling League Hall of Fame with the Meritorious Bowler award in 2005 and inducted into the RCUSBS Bowling League of Fame with the Pioneer Hall award in 2015, among other achievements and awards. In 2016, she was nominated to the State Bowling Hall of Fame, but her sister Geraldine Ray of Pierre was chosen ahead of her! She bowled two to three leagues a week until April of 2016, at 85 years young. At the home in Hidden Valley she continued raising the chickens for eggs and meat (that her son started for FFA projects, while in high school), until 2014.

Lois was also very active in the County Extension program for Pennington County. She belonged to the Foothills Extension Club, that later changed to the Whispering Pines Extension Club. These clubs were heavily involved in the competitions of the Christmas Fairs which included her mother's club, the Wicksville Extension Club and others. The Whispering Pines Club was always rated near the top. She was a 4-H leader and Girl Scout Brownies leader. She worked later in life cleaning/house sitting several residences (more a get out of the house and visit people thing) and at Fischer Furniture cleaning and straightening show floor furniture. She liked gardening, flowers, feeding the birds, landscaping the property, camping, playing cards, tooling leather and loved dancing and bowling. You would find her and Louis dancing the Schottische, Seven Step, Waltzes and two-stepping to all the western music most Saturday nights at the Moose or a local country dance.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Ewert; her parents, Perry and Irma Aby; and two brothers. Perry Jr. and Donnie. She is survived by her children, Leon (Mary) Ewert and Darlene Carter, all of Piedmont, Sandra (Steve) Olson, El Cajon, CA, and Starr (Bob) Penticoff, Rapid City; 10 grandchildren, Traci Heese (Jeff), Rolla, MO, Carrie Garrity (John), Chugiak, AK, Chris (Kelli) Ewert, Spearfish, Perry Wade (Sampson), St. Paul, MN, Cole Wade, Piedmont, Jeremy Olson, El Cajon, Scott (Melissa) Olson, Santee, CA, Jory (Jessica) Skaare, Gilbert, AZ, and Mikkel (Vanessa) Skaare and Sierra Skaare, all of Rapid City; 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Shirley Millard, Lead, and Yvonne Flax and Geraldine Ray, both of Pierre; and a brother, Richard (Pam) Aby, Queen Creek, AZ; as well as numerous cousins and a great many friends.

Services and a Celebration of life will be held on July 1, 2017. Times and places will be announced later.