Lois Yvonne (Aydelott) Brandenfels died January 21, 2021 at the River Bend (Sacred Heart) Hospital at the age of 86. She was born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Clark and Doris Aydelott during the Great Depression. In those trying days it was not uncommon for families to move from place to place with the result that Lois’ school attendance was challenged with frequent moves. The family finally settled in Alhambra, Calif., where she attended the Emery Park Elementary School and then Alhambra High School where she graduated.
Lois’ father, Clark Aydelott, was a Christian Minister and Lois developed a strong interest in service to the church and others. As a teenager, Lois had many opportunities using her beautiful soprano voice for church services and other activities. She also spent a lot of time visiting patients at LA General Hospital where her father was the Chaplain. These activities led to her decision to attend Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore., where she met her future husband, Fred Brandenfels. During their early ministry and graduate school studies, Fred and Lois answered the call to missionary work with the United Christian Missionary Society. Their work took them to Mexico, where they served in preaching and managing a home for underprivileged children. When they returned to Eugene, Lois entered college at the University of Oregon and earned a master’s graduate degree in Education (M. Ed.). She taught elementary school in Springfield and Walterville, Ore., and later in her career worked as the administrative assistant to the President of Northwest Christian College. After retirement, Lois has been active at First Christian Church, Eugene with the children’s Worship and Wonder program and the “Helping Hand” ministry.
She was predeceased by her parents Clark and Doris (Haines) Aydelott, her sister, Marlene Cooper, and her brother, Jim Aydelott. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Fred Brandenfels, children, Alan Brandenfels and Nancy Brandenfels, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her older brother, Roger Aydelott.
