Obituary: Ethel "Ramona" Lohse

Ethel "Ramona" Lohse, 83, passed away due to natural causes Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Northern Montana Care Center. 

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, at Messiah Lutheran Church with Marilyn Henry officiating.

Ramona's family has requested that memorial donations be made to Bear Paw Hospice, the Havre Art Association, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Ramona's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.hollandbonine.com.

Ramona was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Havre to Ernest and Frieda (Miller) Jappe. She was raised on the family farm outside of Big Sandy, attending school there. After high school, Ramona married Clarence H. Lohse, and the couple moved to Havre in 1951, where Ramona worked at the high school in food service, at Buttrey's as a checker, at Citizens Bank as a teller, and at Valley Furniture as a bookkeeper.

She and Clarence raised their four children in Havre, and owned and operated Bear Paw Lumber for many years, where Ramona worked as the bookkeeper with her beloved husband. Together, she and Clarence built many homes. She even helped shingle roofs and always painted the interiors of homes and even decorated them, a job at which she excelled.

Ramona loved to garden, and her yard was always spectacular.  She enjoyed softball, and played often in her younger years. She was a wonderful mother, who instilled great values in all her children who she felt were her greatest accomplishment.

She loved to spend time with her family and often encouraged family gatherings and snowmobiling together in the Bear Paws. Ramona was a happy lady who loved her life, especially the ability to spend 66 years with Clarence, the love of her life. She was a member of Soroptimist International for over 20 years, and an active member of the Havre Art Association until just recently.

  She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Frieda Jappe; her brothers, Lawrence and Leonard Jappe; her sisters-in-law, Earlyn and Marion Jappe; her nephew, Lawrence Jappe II; her son-in-law, Larry Brorson; her brother-in-law, Alan Lohse; and her sister-in-law, Judy Lohse.

Ramona is survived by her husband of 66 years, Clarence Lohse of Havre; her son, David (Fern) Lohse of Havre; her daughters, Valeri (Alvin) Stremcha of Havre, Elaine Brorson of Missoula, and Leila Haigler of Havre; her 10 grandchildren; her 26 great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and friends.