Virginia Saathoff • 1943 - 2002

Virginia Loy Saathoff
June 7, 1943 – July 17, 2002

Family, friends and former students are mourning the loss of Virginia Loy Saathoff, who died at her home in Minot on Wednesday, July 17, surrounded by her family with support from Hospice.

Virginia Olson was born to Art and Maxine (Vance) Olson in Lisbon, N.D., on June 7, 1943. Growing up she was active in music at Lisbon High School before graduating in 1961. She went on to earn her Standard Teaching Certification from Valley City State College in 1963. She completed her Bachelor of Science in education at Minot State University in 1981 as well as the math specialist program at Mayville State University.

In 1963, she began teaching school in Westhope, N.D. She married the Rev. Darrel Saathoff on August 2, 1964, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisbon. The couple met when Darrel was a seminary intern at the Lisbon congregation. The newlyweds moved to Rolette, where Virginia continued teaching school. Their daughter was born in 1967.

The couple later moved to Newcastle, Wyo., where their son was born, and then on to Yankton, S.D. In 1977, the family moved to Minot, where Virginia taught kindergarten at North Hill School, and Darrel served as pastor for Christ Lutheran and Rose Valley Lutheran congregations. She was later a third-grade homeroom teacher and math specialist at Lincoln Elementary, where she worked with three other teachers to develop an innovative cross-curricular program for elementary students.

Virginia was active in the church throughout her life, assisting in parish work and congregational music at Lutheran congregations in Rolette and Overly, N.D., Yankton and Custer, S.D., as well as Newcastle.

In addition to the many students she taught in the classroom, Virginia shared her expertise by helping develop the North Dakota Math Standards and Benchmarks, as well as the North Dakota Math Assessments. She was also a frequent workshop presenter at the North Dakota Education Association Convention and for school districts.

She was a member of the North Dakota Education Association, the Minot Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In 1995, Virginia received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching. In 1996, she received the YWCA Women of Distinction Professions Award. In 1998, she received the Milken Family Foundation Education Award for North Dakota. At her retirement earlier this year, she received the Instructional Performance Award from Minot Public Schools.

Recently, Virginia made presentations to various church and civic groups, sharing a message of encouragement for individuals and families battling cancer.

Virginia will be fondly remembered by family, friends and former students for her love of life and her Christian faith. Since she was first diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago, her positive outlook has set an example to those around her.

Virginia is survived by: her husband; her father and his special friend Katie Lawrence of Cayuga, N.D.; daughter and son-in-law, Miriam and Cloy Tobola, Fargo; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sara Saathoff, Chicago; two sisters and their spouses, Brenda and Keith Dick of Lisbon, and Pam and Gordon Ellenson of Amenia, N.D.; granddaughter, Alissa Tobola, Fargo; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral: 11 a.m. on Friday, July 19, at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot.

Burial: 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, at Preston Lutheran Cemetery, Fort Ransom, N.D.

Prayer Service: Thursday, today, July 18, 2002 at 7 p.m.Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.

Visitation will be on Thursday, today from noon until 5 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND. Visitation will then continue at the church at 6 p.m.

Memorials are preferred to the foundation or organ fund at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot.

Officiants: Rev. Barb Haugerud, Rev. Stan Dolan, Rev. Marsh Drege

Music
Song Leader: Carol Moen
Medley of Hymns
“How Great Thou Art,” “Children of the Heavenly Father”
“What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Amazing Grace”
“Beautiful Savior,” “Lord Of All Hopefulness”
Congregational Hymns
“Borning Cry” and “Oh How He Loves You and Me”
Cathedral Choir Anthem, “The King Is Coming”
Tammy Doerr, “Beautiful”
Kari Ness, “On Eagles Wings”
Congregational Hymn, “For All The Saints”
Allen Drege, organist

Active Bearers: Scott Meyers, Nathan Meyers, Jerrod Ellenson, Justin Ellenson, Mitchell Olson and Ryan Bohnsack

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