Dorothy Lois (Dickman) Lanphere was born in Alaska on June 23, 1945. Her parents, Connie and Alvin Dickman, were teachers for the US government at the school in Sitka. Lois grew up with her four sisters (Connie, Lorraine, Cynthia and Leslie) in Alaska as well as Utah. Lois attended Whitworth University where she played basketball and found her love of teaching. This was followed by graduate studies at New Mexico Tech where she obtained a Masters in Science Education. It was there she met Starr Lanphere. The two of them fell in love while on a trip to Disneyland - Starr always said it was when she danced with Baloo the Bear who was just as tall as she was! Lois and Starr settled in the American Southwest where they raised two daughters, Gwen and Tania. After Starr passed away in 2012, Lois moved to Redmond, WA in order to be closer to her daughters, sisters and multitude of nieces and nephews. She continued to find joy in singing with Sweet Adelines and was very proud of the different choruses, quartets and double quartets she sang with over the last 2 decades. Lois also loved spending time with her granddaughter, Zoe. Most weeks would find Zoe and Lois out for an adventure, enjoying afternoon tea, putting together a puzzle or just singing along to the radio while driving around Seattle.

Lois passed away March 18, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. Her bright smile will be missed not only be her large extended family but also by her expansive network of friends. A memorial service celebrating Lois' life will be held once we can all gather together again as she would want.