Lola Clooten, 92, of Star, Idaho, passed away March 17, 2023. She was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, to Elli and Nola Godin on July 17, 1930. She grew up in Canada with her older brother Ray and their mother during the Great Depression. In 1939, Elli took her children to Finland to visit their Finnish relatives. Shortly thereafter, World War II broke out and they were forced to return to Canada by ship, crossing the Atlantic under darkness to avoid German U-Boats.
Lola met Kenneth Clooten in 1951 when she and her friend Marilyn visited Los Angeles and the girls stayed with Ken’s cousin (and Marilyn’s future husband), Jack. Ken loved to tell the story of how he walked into Jack’s home and found Lola asleep on the sofa. He turned to Jack and said “That is the woman I’m going to marry.” After her return to Canada, the couple corresponded for six months. Lola finally traveled back to California to join Ken, and they were married in Los Angeles on April 5, 1952. They were married for 67 years and had two children, David and Karen.
In 1960 Lola proudly became a U.S. Citizen. She worked as a bookkeeper with William J Mallum and Associates for 35 years. She enjoyed community theater and movies, her flower garden, and spending holidays with family. She loved traveling, making summer trips with Ken and the children to Bismarck, ND, Ken’s hometown.
Lola and Ken called South Pasadena, California home for over 50 years. They moved to Star, ID in 2011 to be closer to their children.
Lola was preceded in death by her mother, Elli Suamalainen, her husband, Kenneth Clooten, her brother, Ray Godin, and her mother-in-law, Grace Clooten. She is survived by her son David Clooten of Meridian, ID, her daughter Karen Kean and Karen’s husband Tom of Star, ID, her grandsons Branden and Brett Grenier, her brother-in-law Bill Clooten and his wife Kwang.
Lola will be interred at Stewartsdale Cemetery in Bismarck, ND. A Celebration of Life & Memorial will be held at a later date.