[Nfbmt] Sad Loss

[David bell]

I remember her well. I was around when her vision went out. She was more active and energetic than many folk of her age that lose vision. I'm glad to hear that she was involved with the organized blind over the years. 



-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 3:41 PM
To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
Subject: [Nfbmt] Sad Loss

I'm really going to miss her ....

Lois M. Dupuis
missoulian.com

Lois M. Dupuis
13 HOURS AGO

POLSON – Lois M. Dupuis passed away Nov. 27, 2012, at the age of 94.

She was the eldest daughter of Fred and Hellen Houle, and was preceded
in death by her husband, James; daughter, Janet; son, Victor; sister,
June Dullaghan;
and brother, Fred Jr. She is survived by sisters, Lora, Allene and
Rosemary; brother, Bob; daughter, Anita; son, Virgil; grandchildren,
Lucas and Ana;
and numerous nieces and nephews.

An enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes,
Lois ventured far from home, for a lady of her generation, seeking
employment. After
serving as the recording secretary of the first federally recognized
tribal council of the CSKT, she worked for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs in Billings
and for the Crow Tribe of Montana. She then transferred to work in
Washington, D.C., for the Pentagon and met and married fellow tribal
member James Phillip
Dupuis. She met Jim through the “moccasin telegraph” as she was
rooming with two of his sisters at the time.

Upon retirement from the U.S. Forest Service, Lois and Jim became
cherry orchardists on Finley Point. At 72, Lois lost her sight and
became a Montana leader
in bringing awareness to the training and services needed by people of
low vision.

Lois was selected, from a field of 6,500 nominees, for a 1999 “Ageless
Hero” award from Blue Cross-Blue Shield Insurance, winning in the
“Beating the Odds”
category for overcoming the challenges of a disability. Lois started
the Mission Valley Chapter of the Montana Association of the Blind,
and at 84 served
as host and organizer of the 2002 annual state conference. Lois served
as the Prayer Chain chair for the First Baptist Church for 10 years.

Viewing will take place Thursday, Nov. 29, until 1 p.m. at Grogan
Funeral Home in Polson. A memorial service followed by a luncheon will
be held at the
First Baptist Church on Montana Highway 35 in Polson at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lois’ name to the Montana
Association for the Blind or the First Baptist Church. Messages of
condolences may
be shared with the family online at
www.groganfuneralhome.com.

-- 
Dan Burke, President
The National Federation of the Blind of Montana

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