Lois Lavonne Kupser, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 10, 2026, at Trinity Hospital in Minot. She was 87 years old.
Born Lois Lavonne Thom on March 26, 1938, in Upham, she was the daughter of Bernhardt “Ben” and Frieda (Amon) Thom. Raised on the family farms with her siblings in the Upham, Granville, and Minot areas, Lois was known throughout her life for her dedication and strong work ethic. She began her career at the North American Van Lines agency in Minot, working for Roger Ward, then managed the Crafters Mall under his direction, and later worked alongside her friends at Herbergers until her retirement. She took great joy in being a homemaker and caring for her husband, Tony, and was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church.
Lois was first married to Weslie R. Vannett, with whom she had three daughters, Terri, DeeAnn, and Kathy. She later married Tony Kupser, who brought three children into her life: Penny, Randy, and Cindy. She is survived by her daughters Terri (Marlowe) Johnson of Minot and DeeAnn (Art) Hansen of Cheyenne, Wyoming; son-in-law Jeff Smith of Temecula, California; grandchildren Matthew (Michelle) Johnson, Casey (Jennifer) Johnson, Kandice Hansen, Alex (Blake) Schmoll, Eric (Jaz) Smith, and Victoria Smith; eight great-grandchildren; and Tony’s children Penny Kupser, Randy (Nikki) Kupser, and Cindy Geahry, along with their children and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Tony in 2024; her daughter Kathy in 2022; her parents; brothers Clifford (Ann) Thom, Harley (Helen) Thom, Willard (Janice) Thom, Clayton (Myra) Thom, and Sheldon (Caroline) Thom; sister Violet (Bill) Gartner; and infant siblings Dixie and Otto.
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