Lois Catherine Travis, age 94, of Prairie Village, Kansas, formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa died Saturday, August 29, 2015 at Claridge Court Retirement Community in Prairie Village, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Lois Catherine Miller, the youngest of four children, born to Mary E. (Creamer) and William Z. Miller, was born in Sexton, Iowa on September 13, 1920. In 1938, she graduated with a class of 58 students from Algona High School, where she was a member of the Glee and Operetta Clubs. Lois then attended Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. During her first year, she transferred to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa to be closer to her family. With the unexpected death of her father, Lois was not able to continue her education. Her first job was working for her sister Ruth and her husband Phil, who owned “Smart But Thrifty”, a women’s retail store.

While in Storm Lake, she met her husband at the Storm Lake bowling alley. At the age of 21, she and Robert “Bob” Travis were married March 8, 1942 in South Sioux City, Nebraska. In May of 1942, Bob was drafted for World War II and was sent to Mississippi for boot camp. As a young woman, Lois traveled by train to visit Bob in Mississippi and then New Jersey, before Bob shipped out for his tour of duty in Africa and Italy. After returning from war in 1945, Lois and Bob spent many years on archeology digs in northwest Iowa and were avid antique collectors. Lois loved collecting antiques including salt and pepper shakers, glassware, dolls, toys, postcards and anything Coca-Cola. For over 70 years, Lois penned letters to over 90 pen pals and traded postcards all over North America. She never passed up a garage sale, estate sale or flea market. She loved bird watching, card games, including the family Pinochle tournaments, Pitch, Yahtzee, bingo and in her younger days, bowling and dancing.

For over 45 years the Travis family would travel to Park Rapids, Minnesota for summer vacation, where Lois was able to make friends going to flea markets and antique shops while Bob fished. Playing the card game of Pitch was a big part of their summer vacations. In her later years, Lois opened an antique booth in the Mission Road Antique Mall called Childhood Memories, Prairie Village, Kansas. Lois was a member of the Archaeology Society of Iowa, Northwest Chapter, The Sioux City Museum, The Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas and a former member of the United Methodist Church of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Living most of her life in Storm Lake, Iowa, Lois and her cat, PK, moved to Leawood, Kansas in 2009 to live with her daughter, Mary, and family. Lois was still able to enjoy summer vacations with her son, Rich, to Minnesota and daughter, Mary, to Table Rock Lake and the Florida coast.

Lois was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. Lois is survived by her son, Richard Travis and his wife, Brenda of Galva, Iowa; daughter, Mary and her husband Guy Swanson of Leawood Kansas; four grandchildren: Tiffanie Travis, Paige, McKenzie, and Conner Swanson; two great grandchildren: Brett and Lacy Baxter; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; husband; twin children: daughter, Roberta Lea and son, Robert Morrie; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Richard and Louise Miller, Bernard and Dorothy Miller; and sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Phil Thornton. Lois will be laid to rest next to her husband Bob in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery, Storm Lake, Iowa.

On September 13, her 95th birthday, an open house will be held to celebrate her life from 2-4:00 p.m. at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, Kansas. A special thank you to all of Lois’ wonderful caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, our beloved Anita Reeves, the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa; as well as the staff at Claridge Court Retirement Community and Continua Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Buena Vista County Historical Society or to a charity of your choice.

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