Lois Ann Ereth

Lois Ann Ereth, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, went to be with her Lord on April 15th, 2024, at the age of 85. She passed away of natural causes at the Billings Clinic Broadwater nursing home with her daughter and granddaughter by her side and surrounded by the love of all her large and extended family.

Lois Ann Cain was born to Lola Belle Keith Cain and William Handy Cain in Muskogee, OK on August 30th, 1938. Lois was the middle child of three. She moved with her family in 1945 to Chester, MT at a young age and later to Shelby, MT area in 1946, living in Kevin and Whitlash area. She married Cleveland Aurthur Dye in 1953 and later divorced, they had one daughter, Carmen. She then married Stanley LeRoy Rogers in 1955 and later divorced, they had one daughter, Cheri`. In 1958 Lois married the love of her life, her “John Wayne”, Marion Preston “Tex” Polk. They made their home in Cut Bank, MT and around 1960 moved to Shelby and the Sweetgrass Hills north of Shelby where Tex worked in the oilfields. They had a son Louis “PeeWee” in 1964. Together they raised their blended family for 22 ½ years until the time of Tex’s death in 1981. She was blessed to have found another love when she met and married Harold Ereth in 1982. They lived in Killdeer, ND and drove semi-truck together as a team to places all over the United States until moving to Shelby, MT and later to Reedsport, OR to care for Harold’s aging parents. Lois loved Oregon and made many friends that became like family. After Harold’s death in 2001 she remained in Reedsport caring for his parents. Later she moved back to Shelby, MT and then to Conrad, MT to be closer to family in her later years. She enjoyed the friends she made, playing pool and games while living at the Horizon Lodge in Conrad. She was most recently living at the Billings Clinic Broadwater nursing home in Townsend, MT for the past year and half where she enjoyed many visitors, especially her great grandson, Ayden, to play bingo, do puzzles and lunch.

Lois was a homemaker for many years and made several beautiful wedding cakes. She was an accomplished seamstress and greatly enjoyed making beautiful ceramics, crochet, beading, and jewelry crafts. She gifted many of her beautiful crafts to her family and friends, she made her daughters, Carmen and Cheri’s, wedding gowns, and great-granddaughter, Kendra’s, prom dress and several others. She greatly enjoyed singing karaoke and was a wonderful vocalist. When younger she harmonized with her sister Roetta and brother “Butch” in impromptu concerts whenever they got together. During her time on the road truck driving Mom would write to all us kids on the backs of the paper placements at all the truck stops they stopped at, and she would photocopy so she could send it to each of us. She loved to share that she once sang karaoke with Merle Haggard and smoked a joint with Willie Nelson. You could always find her listening to old country music and watching westerns, especially ones with John Wayne. No matter where she lived, she made many friends, and everyone loved her and listened to her talk of her adventurous life.

Lois is lovingly remembered by her birth children Carmen (Tim) Wyant, Swan Lake MT; Cheri` (Glenn) Robertson, Helena MT; Louis “PeeWee” Polk, Laurel MT; and other children Lucy (Perry) Griffith, Weatherford TX; Jim D Polk, Missoula MT; Debbie (David) McKenzie, Williston ND; Dr. Mark (Karen) Ereth, Rochester MN; Carmaine (Steve) Ternes, Emporia KS; Julie Ereth, Fargo ND; Pam (Larry) Sayler, Brooklyn Park MN; Di Ereth, Central City SD; Jennifer (Tim) McNamara, Grenora ND; 33 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and many great-great grandchildren; a sister, Delories Roetta Sattler, Sebastian FL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husbands, Marion Preston “Tex” Polk, Great Falls MT and Harold Ereth, Reedsport OR; a brother Louis Hoffman, Lodi CA; daughters Beverly Jo Massey, Bastrop LA, Donna Gay White, Waynesburg PA; a son Preston W “Sonny” Polk, Ku Tam Vietnam; foster child Donald Harvey Baney, Shelby MT; a great grandchild Austin Jordan Robertson, Townsend MT; father William Cain, Dallas TX; parents Louis Hoffman and Lola Zimmerman, Shelby MT; dear friend Mike Immerman, Conrad MT; and her four legged companion Scooter.

We want to say a special thanks to Billings Clinic Broadwater staff for the exceptional care that our mom and grandma received. She made many friends and could not have been in a better place this past year and half. This gave our family such a peace of mind, knowing you cared for her like she was your own.

Lois is being cremated and at a later date will be buried in a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers you can donate to your favorite charity in her name. She had a special place in her heart for Veterans and animal shelters.

“Sing me back home.”

Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family. 

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