The funeral service for Lois A. Sollie, 94, of Aberdeen, SD, will be 10:30am, Saturday, March 7, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Nicole Martin officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3:00-7:00pm, Friday, with family present from 5:00-7:00pm, followed by a prayer service at 7:00pm at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street.
Lois Sollie was born Lois Anne Friedrichsen to Henry and Helen (Gribble) Friedrichsen on November 26, 1930 in rural Huron, SD. She grew up on the farm by Sheffield (Northeast of Huron) and attended elementary school at Sheffield where she was the only one in her class. In the 4th grade she decided she wanted to be a teacher. She liked helping others learn and grow. Lois graduated from Huron High School in 1948. She spent the summer going to Northern State Teacher College (which is now Northern State University) and began teaching at the Bloodgood Rural School southeast of Huron that fall at the age of 17. She taught there 2 years going to summer school at Northern again in 1949. In the fall of 1951 she began teaching in the Aberdeen Public Schools. She taught 2nd grade at Roosevelt School for 9 years. In 1960-1961 she taught special reading classes for disabled students at Adams and Howard Hedger Schools. During that 10 year period Lois attended night classes and summer school at Northern completing her Bachelor’s Degree in 1955 and her Master’s Degree in 1971. Lois started teaching at Northern State College in the fall of 1961. She taught Elementary Education and Special Education Classes until she retired in June of 1995.
She supervised the Reading Clinic during all of her years at Northern. She taught extension courses in Redfield and Eagle Butte. She supervised student teachers in both North Dakota and South Dakota. Lois taught her students more than just academics; she taught them life lessons through who she was; how she taught and how she lived her life.
Lois married Arthur (Jim) Hartwell in August 1953. Arthur passed away in December 1964. Lois married Virgil Sollie on December 22, 1969. Virgil passed away on January 16, 1985. They had a good life together. Square Dancing was among the things they enjoyed.
Lois was very devoted to God and her church. She served on many boards; taught Bible lessons; helped with many funeral and wedding lunches and helped with fundraisers and bazaars. She was involved in quilting and card making. She participated in circle groups. She helped everywhere in the church where help was needed.
Lois was active in the Shakespeare Club; AAUW Book Club, and retired teacher organizations. She had a life time love of learning and reading. Throughout all of her busy teaching career and church involvement, Lois stayed very close and spent quality time with her family and friends.
Lois went to be with her Lord peacefully on February 27, 2025 at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her step-sons Galen and Suzan Sollie of Woodstock Illinois and Leonard and Karla Sollie of Aberdeen, SD. Her brother-in-law Allan Thoreson of Marshalltown, IA. Her nephews and nieces, Curt and Joan Friedrichsen of Watertown, SD; Stewart and Shirley Friedrichsen of Huron, SD; Doug and Brenda Friedrichsen of Huron, SD; Brian Friedrichsen of Huron, SD; Lori and Chuck Lumsden of Oklahoma City, OK; Mike Bush of Phoenix, AZ; Joel Thoreson, Dubuque, IA, and Alayne Thoreson, St. Paul, MN. Her Aberdeen family; Tom and Marie Bretsch; Bob Bretsch; DeAnn and Phillip Kaup; Ron and Deb Bretsch; Valerie and Doug Roethler; Michael and Lory Bretsch; Brenda Bretsch-Thayer and Steve; Scott and Michele Bretsch. Step-grandchildren; many great and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins.
Lois was preceded in death by her husbands, Arthur (Jim) Hartwell and Virgil Sollie. Parents Henry and Helen Friedrichsen. Sisters Iris Thoreson and Phyllis (Warren) Bush. Brother LeRoy (Violet) Friedrichsen. Great friends Art and Donna Bretsch and Melody Bretsch.
Lois’ wish is that Memorials be directed to ; Zion Lutheran Church of Aberdeen or Northern State University (Scholarship Fund) of Aberdeen .
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