Lois M. Eitland Stueland

Lois M. (Swiggum) Eitland Stueland, of Viroqua, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2021 at Vernon Memorial Hospital with her family by her side, as the church bells rang at 11:00 a.m. She was 72 years old. Lois was born April 10, 1949, to Leif and Lilah (Lunde) Swiggum. She and her siblings grew up on the family farm on Lovaas Ridge in Westby. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and graduated from Westby High School with the class of 1967. Following her graduation, Lois married Everett Eitland and together they had four daughters. The family spent time going out for drives and playing car travel games, laughing at Everett’s jokes, singing songs, and having fun visiting relatives. Lois and Everett’s home in downtown Viroqua was also a gathering place for family members and friends. There was never a time in which guests were not treated to some of Lois’s delicious baking and a pot of coffee. In addition to taking care of her four children, Lois provided wonderful care for Everett as his health declined and until his death on October 15, 1984. On October 3, 1987, Lois married Gary Stueland at Bethel Lutheran Church. They farmed in Springville, liked listening to country western music, enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri & Door County, Wisconsin, and went out for supper with Lois’s siblings to celebrate birthdays. They have been faithful church members. Lois had served as a Sunday School teacher, hosted the Rebecca Circle Ladies’ Bible Study in her home, and was often the first person offering to provide and serve food for Women of the ELCA events. For many years, Lois worked at Super Valu in Viroqua. She liked visiting with customers and her co-workers, as well as doing the shopping for community members who needed food delivered to their homes. Throughout her life, she supported many people who needed a helping hand and found joy in making and giving gifts to family, friends, and strangers. Most of all, Lois and Gary loved spending time with “the girls” and their grandchildren. Lois was very proud of her daughters and especially enjoyed listening to them sing. Her grandchildren have special memories of baking cookies, pie, and lefse with Grandma; eating Grandma’s spaghetti, macaroni salad, and angel food cake; decorating Easter eggs; having Grandma & Grandpa attend their school, Sunday School, and sporting events; joking with her about her height; and giving good-bye hugs and kisses. The grandchildren looked forward to getting a card in the mail with a dollar bill and a stick of gum for every holiday and birthday. Grandma will certainly be missed as the family carries on these traditions. In addition to being the most loving wife, mom, and grandma, Lois will always be remembered for making it a priority to take care of others and put their needs before her own. Well done, good and faithful servant! Survivors include her husband, Gary; her four daughters, Karen (John) Hale, Pamela Eitland, Susan Eitland, and Angela (Monte) Eitland-Anderson; her grandchildren, Michael and Lucas Hale, Zachary, Collin, and Abigail Eitland-Anderson; Kelly Eitland; her siblings: Shirley Aarness, LuEtta (Monte) Nelson, Barbara (Ray) Heldt, Bonnie Dempsey, Donnie Swiggum, and Joyce Haakenson; her brother-in-law, Larry Langrehr; her sisters-in-law, Deloris Olson, Charlotte Stalsberg, and Dorothy Eitland; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins; other relatives and many friends. Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Everett Eitland; her brother, Leonard (Winnie) Swiggum; her sisters, Patricia Swiggum and Becky Langrehr; her sisters-in-law, Pat Stueland and Jean (Rev. Jerry) Aamot; her brothers-in-law Leon Aarness, Ron Stearns, and Richard Haakenson; several of Everett’s siblings and their spouses; as well as extended Swiggum, Eitland, and Stueland family members. The Funeral Service for Lois will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at Bethel Lutheran Church in rural Viroqua. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 18, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua, and again on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Lois will be laid to rest in the church cemetery. Blessed be the memory of Lois (Swiggum) Eitland Stueland. Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua is serving the family. 123 W. Decker Street Viroqua, WI 54665 608-637-2100