Lois Lenz

Lois Lenz, 104, of rural Reynolds, ND, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Hatton Prairie Village in Hatton, ND, in the comforting presence of her children. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Holmes United Methodist Church, rural Reynolds, ND. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley: Attn: Philanthropy, 3800 56th Ave S., Fargo, ND 58104 or Hatton Prairie Village, 950 Dakota Ave, Hatton, ND 58240.

Lois Lilah Roeder was born on April 14th, 1921, near Thompson, ND, to Paul Roeder and Helen (Nienas) Roeder. Lois completed elementary education at a nearby country school, district #101. She attended high school in Grand Forks at Central High, then went on to Aaker’s Business College where she earned her degree in bookkeeping. She worked at the REA office and eventually at Gamble Robinson where she served as their office manager.

Lois married Earl Lenz on December 16th, 1949, at the Holmes Evangelical United Brethren Church near Reynolds, North Dakota. They then began their lifelong career in farming a little over a mile down the road. Earl passed away on July 23, 2013; and following his death Lois continued living there until she entered Hatton Prairie Village in April of 2023.

In later years she served the community in multiple ways: as church treasurer, election clerk, Sunday school teacher, and was also an active member of the local Homemaker’s Club.

Lois was rarely found idle and always preferred to be doing something to keep herself from being “lazy”. She maintained beautiful vegetable and flower gardens and loved to be outside enjoying nature, wildlife, and birds of all kinds. When those things ran out she looked to other projects such as quilting and embroidery. No one ever kept track of just exactly how many quilts she completed but many of them can be found lovingly stored in the closets of all of her children and grandchildren and beyond. She was proficient at playing cards, especially hand and foot, and was way ahead of her time in meticulous scrapbooking skills.

Lois also created an ocean of memories for family members who were lucky enough to accompany her on one of her many trips out West to visit her sisters and their families in Washington. These were treasured memories for her.

Lastly, she loved to laugh. Lois enjoyed her life to its fullest. But it seems that God decided 104 years was probably enough, and she was happy with that, too.

Lois is survived by her five children: Sandra Boe, of Hatton, ND, Shirley Hintermeister (John) of West Fargo, ND, Marianne Skalsky (Kevin) of Dilworth, MN, Robert Lenz (Danine) of Thompson, ND, Julie Lenz, of Reynolds, ND, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her son-in-law, Jeff Boe, her brother, Earl, of Thompson, ND, and her four sisters: Ruby Wilson and Evelyn Chapman of Yakima, WA, Marilyn Shoemaker of Richland, WA, and Bonna Mull of Aurora, IL. Also preceding her in death were father and mothers-in-law Rueben and Marie Lenz, brothers-in-law: Lloyd Lenz, Clifford Lenz, Sidney Thompson, Louie Wilson, Fred Shoemaker, and Ken Mull; sisters-in-law: Viola Lenz Thompson, Betty Beine Lenz, Laverne Schroeder Lenz; and numerous nephews and nieces, in addition to a host of cherished family and friends.

We will forever treasure the time we had with her. She will be deeply missed.