Murdoch, Lois Johnson (1919-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Oct 25 p. 27

Birth date: 1919 Nov 14

text of obituary:

LOIS MURDOCH

Lois Murdoch passed away Sept. 6. She was born Nov. 4, 1919 to Hans and Inga Johnson in Racine, Wis. Her mother was a devoted Christian, and Lois came to know Christ at an early age. In the Depression, she learned to live with little. She felt called to be a missionary in New Guinea. At Moody Bible Institute, she met Cam Murdoch, who felt the same call. While Cam was conscripted into the Canadian Army for 3 years, she served with Kentucky Mountain Mission. She married Cam in 1945. Since New Guinea was closed, they shared the gospel with miners, railroad workers and aboriginals in camps and villages in California and Arizona. They moved to Los Angeles, where Cam served with Gospel Recordings for 20 years . They struggled with little sleep, medical problems and limited finances. In 1968 they moved to Lillooet, B.C., where they worked with aboriginals, ranchers, loggers and isolated villagers; Lois organized and taught vacation Bible schools. They moved to Abbotsford, B.C. in 1979. She suffered with a degenerative neurological condition the last several years and spent the last 2 years in Menno Hospital. Her greatest joy was knowing that the grace of God was transforming the lives of people they worked with. Predeceased by son David at age 25, she is mourned by Cam and children Joanne, Charlotte, Paul, Karen and Eleanor. The memorial service was Sept. l0 in Clearbrook MB Church, Abbotsford, with Heinz Ratzlaff ministering.