Lois Lee (Longbottom) Tollefson (1913-2013)

TOLLEFSON, LONGBOTTOM, RUDQUIST, ROBERTS, GASNER, MILLER, HALL, ROCKWELL

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/5/2013 at 10:53:58

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

Lois L. Tollefson
January 18, 1913 - June 12, 2013

Lois Lee Tollefson was born on January 18, 1913 to Fredericka and Alvin Longbottom in Seaforth, Minnesota. She graduated from high school in Fergus Falls in 1931. Lois attended Normal Training in Lamberton and then taught at various rural schools in Redwood County. District #14 by Wabasso, and also three different times at District #16, which was near Lamberton. After the state closed the rural schools, Lois taught the first grade in Sanborn. During this time she also attended summer school and was awarded a Bachelors degree.

Lois was united in marriage to James E. Tollefson on June 19, 1939 in Lamberton. James taught in Madison, South Dakota, during the first years of marriage. Lois was a substitute teacher in Madison’s three grade schools. She was very active in the Trinity Lutheran Church.

In 1943 they moved to Renville, Minnesota, where James was a coach and Athletic Director and Lois taught at a rural school. They moved to Lamberton in 1944 as the school board requested that her husband to take the position. He had attended school in Lamberton through all 12 grades so he was happy to be back on staff. They were members of Sharon Lutheran Church where Lois was on the church council, in charge of Senior Sunday School, sang in the choir and was active in ELWA. Sharon Lutheran and Our Saviors Lutheran merged and at Our Saviors Lois was in charge of the Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and sang in the choir.

After her two boys started school, Lois taught the first grade at Sanborn. She had this privilege for 20 years. She enjoyed her life with her family and with 6 year olds. Lois often said, “Out of the mouth of first graders comes honesty, frankness and unprejudiced acceptance.”

Lois was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the MEA and NEA. Lois was chosen as Redwood County Teacher of the Year in 1962 and was honored at the Minnesota State Fair.
Lois passed away June 12, 2013 at Bethany Manor in Story City, Iowa at 100 years of age.

Surviving are two sons, Jon and Carla (Rudquist) Tollefson of Ames, Iowa and Lee and Susan (Roberts) Tollefson of St. Paul, Minnesota; two grandsons, Chad and Jenny (Gasner) Tollefson of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and Justin and Julie (Miller) Tollefson of Bozeman, Montana; two granddaughters, Kirsten and (Tom) Tollefson Rockwell of East Lansing, Michigan and Karin (Quillon) Tollefson Hall of Harrisonburg, Virginia; three great-grandsons, Keller Tollefson of Brooklyn Park, Palmer Hall of Harrisonburg and Zachary Rockwell of East Lansing; and four great-granddaughters, Anna Tollefson of Brooklyn Park, Sequoia Hall of Harrisburg, and Ivy Tollefson and Basil Tollefson of Bozeman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents; a sister; and two brothers.

June 17, 2013 Funeral Service 11:00AM - 11:45AM

Bethesda Lutheran Church
1517 Northwestern Ave.
Ames, IA, US, 50010

June 18, 2013 Graveside Service 01:00PM - 01:15PM

Lamberton Cemetery
125th St.
Lamberton, MN, US, 56152

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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