Lois was born March 22, 1932 at Bottineau, ND to Joe and Sarah (Arnason) Hillman. She grew up in Upham, ND and moved to the family farmstead near Concrete, ND with her family. Lois attended school in Concrete through eighth grade and graduated from Cavalier High School in 1950. Lois attended Minot and Mayville State Teacher’s College and obtained her teaching certificate. She taught for three years in Pembina County at Hallson, Hensel and Hilltop Schools.
On June 24, 1954, she married (William) Bill Hardy at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, ND and they began their life on the farm in south Walhalla. Lois was a dedicated farm wife, doing it all: raising six children, cooking, baking, growing a huge garden, canning, cleaning, crocheting, along with running for parts, fixing fences, and driving grain truck. Grandma Lois was famous for her homemade buns, chocolate chip cookies and brownies, even though she claimed to not like chocolate. Lois volunteered her time as a CCD Teacher, St. Boniface Altar Society, and Pembilier Nursing Center Auxiliary.
In 2018, Lois and Bill moved to North Border Estates in Walhalla and Lois entered Pembilier Nursing Center in September 2022. Lois’s family wishes to thank the caregivers at PNC for their wonderful care and compassion.
She is survived by her husband, Bill and her children: Sharon (John) Dunnigan, daughter-in-law, Karen Hardy, Darlene (Richard) Stark, Brian (Julie) Hardy, all of Walhalla, ND, Colleen (Douglas Strand) Hardy, Finley, ND and Kristi (Kevin) Kasprick, West Fargo, ND.; grandchildren: Patrick (Amber) Dunnigan, Kelly (Mike) Brown, Dustin (Karmen) Hardy, Nicole (Adam) Minster, Teri (Joe) Anundson, Brenyn Hardy, Sherry (Aaron) Uselman and Mandi (John) Huus; step-grandchild, Cody (Rachel) Kasprick; great-grandchildren: Taelyn and Tyson Dunnigan, Kasyn and Myleigh Brown, Willa and Dorra Anundson and Hadley and Myles Uselman; sisters-in-law: Gladys Hillman and Linda Fischer; brothers-in-law: Jim (Charlotte) Hardy and Tom (Joanne) Hardy; and several nieces and nephews.
Lois is preceded in death by her son, Don Hardy; parents, Joe and Sarah Hillman; sister and brother-in-law, Lyle and JoAnn Hardy; brother, Greemer Hillman; brother-in-law, Tom Fischer.