Lois Seaman

Birth Date: May 6, 1929
Deceased: December 2, 1980
Number of Children: 8
Number of Grandchildren: 12
Number of Great Grandchildren: 11

The life and times of Lois Seaman

Lois was born in Bath (Brown County), South Dakota on May 6, 1929 to mother, Bernice (Helmka) McBurney (December 11, 1906 to October 13, 1979), and her father William James McBurney (December 10, 1892 to November 11, 1957).

Little is known of her life as a child, except that her father drank a lot and was not around the house much. He provided little support for the family. They lived on welfare while her mother, Bernice, did odd jobs and raised the six kids. Lois went to McKinley Grade School to about 4th grade, then Garfield for 5th and 6th grade. She attended Roosevelt Junior High for 7th, 8th and 9th grades, then Aberdeen Central High School for about a year and half. Afterward, while the rest of her family lived in Aberdeen, she went to live at Bath with her grandfather George Helmka, grandmother Edelwine (Young) Helmka, her aunt Nellie Helmka and her uncle Kiddo Helmka. She went to school there but did not graduate - she left school and got married half way though twelfth grade.

Lois was the oldest of six children. Her siblings include brother Joseph James McBurney (November 30, 1929 to April 2, 1990), Lloyd Sheldon McBurney (March 8, 1932 to June 29, 2015), Margaret Louise McBurney (January 27, 1934 to November 5, 2002), Janice Lorraine McBurney (August 23, 1935 to August 8, 1987) and Wesley George McBurney (Born December 29, 1938).

As a teenager she enjoyed roller skating and got a job working at the local roller rink. It was here that she met Speed Seaman.

Lois married Vern (Speed) Lyle Seaman on December 27, 1946 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. One year later her first of eight children was born - Linda Jean. Over the next eighteen years they would have seven more children - Ricky Howard, Judith Laurel, Janeen Leanna, Kevin Lyle, Heidi Ann, Merri Nelle, and Keith Daniel.

Lois had two driving loves... she loved the Lord and she loved children. While raising eight of her own children (plus a nephew and a niece), she would volunteer to help in the nursery at church in order to have more time with the babies. She would do anything for anyone in need and was always the first to offer assistance. She often worked two full-time jobs and still volunteered with church and school functions. She was an incredible seamstress - sewing clothes for the family as well as making and selling wedding dresses for shops in Scottsdale, Arizona.

For a time, she was a waitress at Bill Johnson's Big Apple restaurant where she was required to dress in full cowgirl costume - including a six gun on her hip. At the same time she got a job at Motorola on the assembly line producing silicon wafers. In short order she was promoted to supervisor. Her career at Motorola lasted until _________.

In the late 1970s Speed was involved in mining operations in Idaho. Lois would occasionally accompany Speed during his commute from Phoenix to Idaho. On one of these trips with Speed, they were involved in a roll-over accident. Lois did not survive the injuries suffered in the accident, and passed away December 2, 1980.

Daughter Judi, wrote this poem about Lois...

Roses were special to Mama

Mama never could grow roses,
a green thumb she never possessed.
I guess we all lack one gift or another,
but everything else she did best.

A gifted woman my Mama,
loving deeds she did for all.
In her life others came first,
she always had time for a call.

Gifted hands like Mama's no doubt,
are a special gift from the Lord.
I guess it's His way of keeping,
us poor folks from getting bored.

So I put it to work,
this green thumb of mine.
And promised my Mama,
it would pay off in time.

The day Mama went to heaven,
a full life, but oh too soon.
In my garden in all its glory,
Mama's first rose stood in full bloom.

Then in her hand I placed this rose,
and said my last goodbye.
I am sorry Mama,
there were tears in my eye.

This may seem small to you, you see.
But my friend, it was special
Between Mama and me.

Judith Laurel

Lois' Gravesite

Her grave site is next to the road, in the northwest corner of section 46 of Greenwood Memory Lawn & Cemetery, at the I-17 and Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona.

Drive to the northeast corner of the cemetery property, to this building.

The grave is directly south of the sidewalk in the center of this photo.

Ancestors

Currently being researched.

Grandkids

Shannon Corley
Rod Seaman
Todd Bagley
Stephanie Howorth
Tammy Seaman
Lucy Seaman
Crystal Misenheimer
Jason Eubank
Janelle Leslie
Daniel Seaman
Jonathan Seaman
Joshua Seaman

Great Grandkids

Courtney Twigg
Cody Twigg
Carly Twigg
Caleb Corley
Kendall Place
Madeline Bagley
Grant Bagley
Isaac Bagley
Tim Howorth
Toby Howorth
Tyler Howorth
Tori Howorth
(Crystal's kids)
Katelyn Leslie
(Janelle's Kids)
(Jason's Kids)

Lois Seaman

The life and times of Lois Seaman

Lois' Gravesite

Ancestors

Parents

Siblings

Spouse

Kids

Grandkids

Great Grandkids