Lois Sandberg

 Lois M. Sandberg, age 89, of Wabasha, died late Tuesday evening, February 17, 2015 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Wabasha. She was born July 31, 1925 in Lancaster, MN, the daughter of Charles and Nathalie (Olsen) Melin. She graduated from Lancaster High School and then attended Moorhead State Teachers College where she attained her teaching certificate. Lois taught in a country school and then in East Grand Forks and in Lancaster where she met her future husband, William Sandberg, who was the principal and coach of the Lancaster school system. They were married July 2, 1950 at Sion Lutheran Church in Lancaster. The couple began raising their family, Lois the homemaker and Bill continuing his educational career as superintendent of schools at Middle River, Henning and Appleton, MN where he served from 1955 until 1973 when the family moved to Wabasha. Bill was superintendent of the Wabasha-Kellogg school district from 1973 until retiring in 1979. Lois worked as a substitute teacher during those years at Wabasha-Kellogg and St. Felix Schools. Bill died November 22, 2005.
 She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha and its Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America organization. She was also a member of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Auxiliary and the Wabasha American Legion Post 50 Auxiliary. She volunteered many hours at St. Elizabeth’s, the Wabasha County Elder Network and the reading programs at Wabasha-Kellogg and St. Felix Schools. Her many interest included playing bridge, reading, travelling, and doing craft work, especially sewing and ceramics. She also enjoyed growing flowers in her gardens.
 Lois is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah Sandberg and John Frederick, St. Paul, MN, Melinda and Reverend Greg Zajac, Altamont, NY, Becky and Steve Nelson, Minneiska, MN; eleven grandchildren, Dana Frederick, Brigitte King and Andrew Frederick, Sarah Peterson Frick and Mark Peterson, Ted, Nate, Ben and Christian Schoen, Ashley Drietz and Brooke Nelson; nine great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Jean Meline, Macomb, IL, and nephews, Craig Peterson and David Meline. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Sandberg, her parents, Charles and Nathalie Melin, brother, Charles Meline, sister, Phyllis Peterson, and nephew, Robert Meline.
 A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00am at Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha with the Reverend David Knox officiating. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Family and friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 5-7pm and at the church on Saturday one hour before the service. Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation, 1200 5th Grant Blvd. W., Wabasha, MN 55981. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com