Obituary of Lois VanderKoogh DeVout

Lois VanderKoogh DeVout, 91, of Roseville, passed away on July 17th, 2022. Born in Jamaica in the borough of Queens, NY on April 10th, 1931, Lois was the only child of Harold and Betty VanderKoogh. Moving frequently with her family during the post-depression years of her childhood before settling in LaGrange, Illinois for high school, Lois graduated valedictorian from Lyons Township High School, became a registered nurse at the School of Nursing at the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, and then an OB-GYN nurse practitioner. She was honored as an RNC-Emeritus in Women’s Health Care after her retirement in 1996. Married to the love of her life, Joseph DeVout, from 1952 until his untimely death in 1973, they raised three children to witness and experience unconditional love.

Though formidable, Lois was warm and approachable, a lifelong learner and listener, and a confidant and guide to many, living a purposeful life with love, faith, and virtue. Parenting ahead of her time, seatbelts and a booster seat were installed in their Ford (always a Ford), low-salt, low-fat meals were served, lively dinner table conversations revolved around current events and moral issues, and most importantly, children were trusted to make sound and ethical choices and act with personal and social integrity. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her delight, and oh, how she treasured reading to them, getting down on the floor to play with them, and attending their events.

Professionally, Lois achieved her childhood dream by becoming a registered nurse and was a champion for women’s health and providing quality healthcare for the under-resourced. Shortly after Joe’s death, she was asked to expand her volunteer hours to a paid position, working for the City of St. Paul until her retirement.

A devoted member of New Life Presbyterian Church (formerly North Como Presbyterian) for nearly sixty years, Lois was a Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, and trusted friend, living out her faith with service and joy.

Close friendships extended beyond church, and Lois met weekly for coffee with the same group of women for more than forty years, bonded with neighbors on Woodlynn Avenue, played bridge regularly, loved one co-worker as a third daughter, and was an active member of the Lois Club. During her last sixteen years, she resided at Greenhouse Village where she was a founding resident, and she felt the love of community deeply.

Lois is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister- and brother-in-law (Dorothy and Wilson Masters), and son-in-law (Michael Sullivan). She is survived by her daughters, Susan DeVout Sullivan and Anne DeVout Atchison (Randy), her son David DeVout, eight grandchildren [Michael Sullivan (Kimberly), Jenna Forbess (Daniel), Joe Sullivan, Jaima Salagovic (Bryan), Josie Campbell (Thomas), Jason DeVout (Nikki), Gillian DeVout, and Carly DeVout (fiancé Michael Frantzen)], ten great-grandchildren (Nathan, Caleb, and Maya Sullivan; Lily and Everett Salagovic; Ava, Mabel, and Rosie Forbess; Ngaire Campbell; and Ellie DeVout), extended family, and lifelong friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 29th at 11:00 am at New Life Presbyterian Church, 965 Larpenteur Avenue West, Roseville, MN 55113 with a visitation one hour prior to the service and a light lunch after. A private interment will be held for the family at Roselawn Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to New Life Presbyterian Church.