Lois Francis (Setzer) Dicus

Lois Dicus of Steelville, MO was born on Wednesday, March 11, 1931, in Cuba, MO to James Setzer and Rebecca Worley Setzer. She passed away on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Steelville Senior Living Center in Steelville, MO at the age of 93 years and 25 days.

Lois graduated from Cherryville High School in 1948 and received her lifetime teaching certificate at the age of 17.  She began her 39-year teaching career in a one room schoolhouse at Lower Viburnum School. Her next school was at Huzzah and part of her pay included room and board in the home of Dave and Grace Dicus.  While living there, their handsome, 21-year-old son, Phillip “Marvin” Dicus, came home from working in the cantaloupe fields in Blythe, CA. They fell in love, eloped 6 weeks later to Salem, Arkansas on Saturday, December 24, 1949. To this union, one daughter, Phyllis Maria, was born.

For the next 10 years, Lois spent every summer taking classes in Bolivar, MO at SBU or in Springfield at Missouri State. It was one of Marvin’s biggest joys to help her get a bachelor’s degree in education from MSU in 1960. During the regular school years, Lois taught first and seconds grades in the Bourbon, Cuba, and Steelville School districts. She was awarded Missouri Conservation Educator of the Year in 1984 for developing an outdoor classroom on the land where Steelville High School is now located. She retired from teaching in May of 1987.

After retiring, Lois decided to run for Crawford County Public Administrator in 1988.  During the 16 years she held office, she loved working with people and giving back to the community.  She increased her caseload from 5 clients when she first began to over 50 clients by the time she retired for a second time in 2004.  For her outstanding service, Lois was named Public Administrator of the year in 2004.

Lois and Marvin were long term members of the Ozark Trailblazers and were involved in running the cookshack during the fall rodeo. She was also a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, Crawford County Republican Women’s
Club, Crawford County Retired Teachers, as well as a 4H leader. During her final retirement, she taught Sunday School for over 10 years, which she enjoyed immensely.  Lois made a profession of faith a few years before her husband’s passing in 2012 and it was that faith in Jesus Christ and her senior women’s church class that kept her going during that tough time.

Lois loved to go to auctions, yard sales, and the annual pilgrimage with her daughter to the Holy Cross rummage sale. She and Marvin traveled all over the Midwest, watching their bulls buck. They enjoyed camping, frying fish on the creek bed, and gardening. Lois was a master canner and a wonderful cook.  She loved spending time in the outdoors, enjoying the flowers, trees, anything green and growing.  She also spent a lot of time watching and feeding her hummingbirds. Her greatest joy, however, was being not only with her daughter, but her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. She will be greatly missed by her family.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Marvin Dicus; parents James (Rebecca) Setzer; parents-in-law David (Grace) Dicus; brothers Kenneth (Thelma) Setzer, James (Jean) Setzer, and George Setzer; sister Marie (Cletis) Cottrell; brothers-in-law Gene Dicus; sisters-in-law Cleta Ottinger and Gerry Kick.

Lois is survived by her adored daughter Phyllis Galbraith and husband Dean of Steelville, MO; grandson T Galbraith and wife Julie of Spearfish, SD; granddaughter Taylor Kennedy and husband Chase of Steelville, MO; great grandchildren Era Marie Galbraith and Evelyne Jean Galbraith both of Spearfish, SD, Lois Aaron Kennedy and Chase Ryan Kennedy, Jr. both of Steelville, MO; numerous and beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and friends.

Visitation was from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, MO.  Memorial Service immediately followed at 7:00 PM with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating.  Memorials were suggested to Eagle Flight Ministries, P.O. Box 125, Steelville, MO 65565.

Arrangements under the care of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, MO.

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