Lois Lawson Belden was born on July 27, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois and passed away peacefully in Stillwater on July 22, 2026, just shy of her 101st birthday. Lois was a beacon of strength, warmth, and compassion, whose life served as a testament to the power of perseverance and dedication.

Lois was the daughter of Clara (Carlson) and Frank Lawson and was raised by her mother who worked long hours and often multiple jobs to support Lois and her brother. As a result, Lois had to learn to be self-reliant and self-dependent to make her way through much of childhood. Lois did have an extended family of Swedish relatives (uncles, aunts, cousins) and spent many weekends and holidays with them enjoying Swedish cuisine, customs and kinship. As a teenager, Lois enjoyed softball, swimming, acting and singing in high school plays.

Lois graduated from high school in 1943 then took classes in electricity and radio technology, learning Morse code and becoming a ham operator, knowing it could be helpful during the war. She was recommended by her high school business teacher to Abbot Laboratories and was initially an office pool typist but within a year was promoted to secretary to the office manager at the age of 19. While this was going on, Lois attended night school at the Chicago campus of Northwestern University and completed two years of undergraduate studies.

Lois met Navy Ensign Bernard Belden at a USO Halloween dance on Chicago’s Navy Pier in 1944 where a budding romance begin. After the Christmas Eve service at Luther Memorial Church, Bernard proposed to Lois and they agreed to marry after he returned from his WWII military duty. During the war, Lois was trained as a Red Cross Nurse and served in that capacity in the Chicago area hospitals.

At the age of 21, they were united in marriage on September 28, 1946, at the Luther Memorial Church in Chicago, marking the beginning of a loving partnership that would last until Bernard's passing in 2003. Together, they built a life filled with warmth and adventure, marked by many family trips across the country, camping and cherished days at their lake cabin.

Following their wedding, they moved to Plattsburg, NY, where Lois took night classes in French with an eye of landing a job with the newly formed United Nations. From 1946-1952 Lois held jobs with accounting firms and private corporations in Plattsburg, Brooklyn and Syracuse where they lived, helping to support Bernard in his academic pursuits.

They then moved to Chico, California in 1953 where Bernard took a teaching position at Chico State University, and it was there that Julie and Mark were born. In 1959, they moved to Stillwater where Bernard took a position as professor at Oklahoma State University and their third child Tim was born.

Lois and Bernard became devoted members of Salem Lutheran Church where she sang joyously in the choir until she was 95. She was also an active participant in the Stillwater League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts of America. Her hobbies were as diverse as her interests, ranging from a love of history, politics, and civil rights to crossword puzzles, reading, sewing and cooking elaborate holiday meals for her family. Lois and Bernard also loved hosting international university students in their home sharing meals, cultures and friendships that lasted a lifetime.

A lifelong learner, Lois continued to pursue her education at the age of 50. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University in 1975. Lois was accepted into the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law and obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 1978. Her passion for justice and equity led her to a successful career in law, beginning in private law practice in Stillwater for two years, then serving as an Assistant District Attorney for four years where she championed child support cases. Her dedication was recognized in 1984 when she was appointed as a Special District Court Judge for Payne-Logan Counties, a role she fulfilled with honor and integrity until her retirement in 1999.

Lois's personal qualities were as inspiring as her achievements. A woman of profound Christian faith, she was known for her charitable and empathetic nature, her love for the environment, and her unwavering belief in fairness and transparency. Her life was a testament to the values she held dear, and her legacy will continue to inspire those who knew her.

Lois Lawson Belden's life was a tapestry of love, service, and unwavering faith. She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Lois was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bernard Belden, her brother Frank Lawson, and her parents. She leaves behind a legacy of love through her devoted children, Julie Davis (Gary), Mark Belden (Laura) and Tim Belden, along with her treasured grandchildren, Glynn, John, James, Claire and Kelsey and great-grandchildren Sophie, Tiernan, Josie, Cooper and Rosie.

A memorial service will be held on August 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Salem Lutheran Church, 101 South Duck St., Stillwater. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Daily Bread, 701 E 12th Ave, Stillwater, OK 74074, reflective of her lifelong commitment to supporting those in need.