Lois Magdeline Masterson

Lois Magdalene Hoersch (Pfeifle) (Masterson) died December 18, 2023, at Ecumen Memory Care at the Cottage, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota – with her daughter, Karen Bergeron, by her side -- most recently on a daily basis. 

Lois is survived by her children: Tim Pfeifle, Karen Bergeron, and Jill Maclay, 7 grandchildren: John, Sara, Jack, David, Jeffrey, Daniel, and Olivia, 11 great-grandchildren: Kasen, Tehilla, Gershik, Yedid, Tzuks’l, Yisroel Meir, Bracha, Shalom, Tzvi, Avi, and Ezra, and her sister-in-law, Fina Hoersch. 

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Myron Pfeifle and John (Jack) Masterson, her brothers and sisters: Harold and Dorothy Hoersch, Wilma and Ted Whittman, Alma and Reuben Schlegel, Victor and Tilly Hoersch, Sam and Carol Hoersch, Esther and Steve Andruss, Clara Gottlieb, Arlene and Wilder Jones, Ruth and Tom Jones, Joel Hoersch, and her great-grandchildren: Yoshi, Sheis, and Mesushelach.

Lois was born in Tangier, Oklahoma, on October 9, 1933, to Mother Louise Weber and Father Reverend John Hoersch living in several cities and states. They were continually blessing others through German Congregational Churches, never throwing anything away, and always keeping house to be prepared for any guests.  She continued these practices throughout her life wrapping up any leftovers of food with aluminum foil for the freezer/later and continually preaching, “Work as You Go!”  Lois graduated from High School in Wishek, North Dakota, where she met Myron Pfeifle and was married in 1951.

1955 through the 70’s Lois and Myron raised children in Mobridge, SD, Fergus Falls, MN, and Detroit Lakes, MN.  Lois took bookkeeping courses through General Motors and assisted with month-end payroll for the family-owned, very successful car dealership, Myron’s Motors.  After the passing of Myron in 1973, later in 1980 Lois and John (Jack) Masterson married and moved to beautiful San Diego to retire, to be closer to sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, to golf, and to walk 3 miles every day with a never-miss stop at the local McDonald’s for morning coffee. 

She was continually serving – often in leadership positions – for her favorite groups and passions:  In Detroit Lakes: the Welcoming Committee, Dance Club, and Bridge Club; In California: St. Timothy’s Church, St. Mark’s Church and their Quilting Bee (She was a leader among the group -- even though she didn’t quilt, she would tie knots on the quilts saying prayers, buying supplies, making deliveries, etc.), Salvation Army, PEO (? some secret sorority. If Karen or Jill were visiting Lois when a meeting was scheduled, they had to wait outside during the business part of the meeting. . . we’re talking Secret!), Republican Women’s, the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association, and the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center (where she served as a docent).  She was a huge fan of the USS Midway Museum and the San Diego Zoo; family passes were always purchased so all visitors could enjoy excursions – as a must-see. 

Per Lois’ request, she will rest on earth at Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.  A gathering is yet to be decided for Spring, 2024.