Lois Bjork Banks

On 6 October 2023, a beautiful fall morning, full of color and the smells of Fall, Lois Bjork Banks, 88, of Holladay, UT, passed away peacefully, at home, with family at her side.

Born in Provo, Utah, to Joseph Alma Bjork and Wilhelmenia Ricks Bjork, Lois was raised on a small farm in American Fork, UT, for 6 months, then on a farm in Holladay, Utah just east of where Driggs Elementary School now stands. This is where hard work became a part of her life. She often went to bed at midnight, and woke at 4 a.m., which habit continued until she was well into her 80s.

In her teens, Lois's parents sold the farm, and bought properties in Holladay and in East Millcreek. Lois thought that the small Millcreek home, on Oakwood Street, was pure luxury, having a built-in bathtub, indoor toilets, and bedrooms with walls, and not a screened-in porch, which she shared with her sister.

Lois Graduated from Granite High School, and then Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she started dating her future husband, Ronald D. Banks.

After graduation, Lois secured a job at the Administration Building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working for the First Presidency and other Apostles of the Church, including the Prophet, President David O. McKay, J. Reuben Clark, Steven L. Richards, Joseph Fielding Smith, and her good friend, and neighbor, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley. She also worked part-time as a model for the ZCMI Department Store.

In 1955, while working for the Church, Lois was engaged to Ronald. However, Lois had inside information that would postpone their plans. Lois had personally typed the Mission Call for her fiancé. She couldn't say anything about the call until Ronald received and opened it. He left for his mission in 1956. After Ron returned in 1957 because of health problems, Lois was sealed to him in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Lois and Ron started their family in East Millcreek, UT. While their family grew, friends kept asking Lois to watch their children. So, when the leaders of the Church asked if she would return to work, she decided to stay home to raise her, and others' children. This was the beginning of her Daycare. She made it an official business, when they moved into their first, and only, house in Holladay, UT in 1971, where she ran the longest running licensed home daycare in Holladay. Along with raising her family, she raised over 150 other children. Some speculate it was the longest-running daycare in Utah. The grandchildren of her first daycare children were her last two daycare children.

Lois and Ron are survived by their five children and spouses, Debby Arthur (Richard), Diana (Mel) Hertig, Michael (Claudia) Banks, Jennifer (Brad) Nichols, and Stephen. They currently have 14 Grandchildren, and 10 Great-Grandchildren.

Lois was the last surviving member of her birth family, predeceased by her Parents, her eldest Brother, Earl, whom she had never met, her Brother, Claron Bjork, and her Sister, Kay Bjork Inness. Her reunion with them was undoubtedly joyful.

Lois was surrounded her entire life by extremely dear friends and neighbors, who were generous with their time, kindness, and resources. She wants to thank all of them, including those at Rocky Mountain Hospice who helped her, right up to the end with the utmost care and concern.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Holladay 10^th Ward, 4601 South Chapel Drive (2565 East), Holladay, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Memorial Holladay~Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South Highland Drive, Holladay, with another viewing on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane in Holladay, Utah.