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Lois Fannie Franklin Ramig (January 31, 1922 – June 24, 2020) prepared for COVID!

Witness Post: Lois Franklin Ramig

Below are the rough notes and the obituary of Lois Ramig. The notes were gathered from comments made by her son, our friend, John Ramig. He had a conversation with me, after his final visit to see his Mom at her long-time home in Pendleton, Oregon.

John Ramig Notes

One of the things I love about Mom was her time when she worked at the bookstore of the Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC), known locally as the Timberwolves. She loved all of the students: black, white, whatever. Somehow the Timberwolves basketball coaches got connected with kids from inner-city Indianapolis, who came to BMCC. These kids stuck out from the Eastern Oregon kids, like a sore thumb. Mom loved them all, as I said, and she invited the entire basketball team over for Thanksgiving Dinner – no judgement, just come to our house. And they came, coaches and all. I felt the ‘Halo Effect’ of Mom’s kind heart for these young men. My brother, Frank, and I cooked for them, ate with them, it was just normal.

The last 10 or 11 days of her life were a gift for me and my family. Mom died on June 24 in her home. She had time with our children, Sarah and Hayden, Anna, Alexander, and with Mia, but mostly it was time with me. In ‘Mom style,’ she was disciplining the nurses, until the day she died.

One thing I noticed was that Mom returned to us those last few days as an infant. She was the center of attention, as newborns always are, and she used her position magnificently. She couldn’t speak, but she could hold her arms and hands out, as if giving you a big embrace. She orchestrated the music, she conducted the energy ever-so-masterfully. It was also a love fest with our son-in-law, Hayden, who was bowled over by Mom. He felt seen, heard, loved and accepted. He was overcome with emotion, admitting that Lois was his first and only grandmother. He sat close to her on her bed and she gave him the sweetest kisses.

At the end, seems like the last five days or so, Mom was into a flurry of activity. She wanted in the worst way to stand up and hug people. Her abilities tried to keep up with her desires. She would stand erect for about 30 seconds, she would pat you on the back, and then she would sit back down again. She continued that practice as long as she could, up to the last visitors.

Then, she was ready to go.

These last three of four months have been a struggle for us as a family: Frank couldn’t be there; Mary couldn’t get there. Mom had one foot in this world and one foot in the other. She was sleeping a lot and eating little. We had dinners together and she was always so thankful. I know she had an affect on her caregivers. They wept for her of course, but mostly they wept for themselves. They knew they would miss the “Lois Spirit” in their lives.

Those last few days she was eating nothing, maybe 10 – 12 teaspoons of applesauce, but that was it. Buddy recorded himself singing Beautiful Savior, one of her favorites, and she played it over and over. Each time she reacted by bowing her head in prayer, savoring every moment, note, and feeling. She had just enough energy to hold the moments, suspend time, and welcome the Spirit. In a word? She was Spectacular!

The hospice nurses said it wouldn’t be long. She was getting close, breathing faintly. I was holding one of her hands and Sarah held the other hand. We were with her, when she died. She just stopped breathing. It was always Mom’s heart’s desire to die in her home of 59 years. We are so happy for her, we are thrilled.”

As Fr. Rick Ganz noted, “Your Mom always felt your attentiveness, John. Those last 11 days, Lois took you out-of-play and she was the absolute presider over those final moments.” Then, as a group, the Men Of Wednesday prayed: “God bless you, Lois Ramig. Thank you for blessing us!”

Obituary from Eastern Oregon: Pendleton

January 31, 1922 – June 24, 2020

Lois Fannie Franklin Ramig, died peacefully on the afternoon of June 24, 2020, at home, surrounded by family. She was 98 years old.

Lois was born in McGrew, Nebraska, on January 31, 1922, to Robert I. and Beulah R. Franklin. She grew up on the Franklin family farm with her two brothers, Paul and Cal, and three sisters, Roberta, Betty, and Margie. Lois was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1945 with a degree in home economics.

Bob Ramig and Lois Franklin met in grade school and married on November 28, 1943.

The Ramigs moved from Nebraska to Oregon, arriving in Pendleton in 1961. Lois was a fixture at the Blue Mountain Community College bookstore where she worked for more than 20 years. She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for family and friends and made beautiful quilts for newborns and Pendleton graduates.

Lois was an enduring presence in her community and tremendously faithful to her many friends, who crossed generations. Loyal and kind beyond measure, she met every challenge with determined, gracious strength. Her home and her kitchen were warm and full.

Lois delighted in her family, and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is predeceased by her husband of over 60 years, Robert E. ‘Bob’ Ramig, and her grandson, Michael Ramig. She is survived by children, Frank and wife Carolyn; Mary; and John and wife Mia; grandchildren, Lisa and husband Gerald; Kendall and wife Britta; Lauren and husband Dan; Sarah and husband Hayden; Anna and Alexander; and great grandchildren Leon; Henri; Adam; Annette; and Zell. She loved many, many others as her own.

Due to current restrictions, a memorial and celebration of Lois will be held in Pendleton at a later date.

For those who wish, memorials may be sent to Peace Lutheran Church or Vange John Memorial Hospice in care of Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, 131 SE Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801.