Jane Loeffler

Margaretta Jane Lomen Loeffler, 93, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Bethany on University, Fargo, ND. Jane was born on a farm near Solway, Minnesota, to Anna (Solberg) and Tosten J. Lomen. She was the youngest of nine children. Her mother died when Jane was four years old. She attended elementary school in Solway and high school in Bemidji, Minnesota, followed by Business College in Bemidji. Two brothers were called into service in WWII, which would have left her father alone on the farm, so Jane stayed at home with him the next three years. After the war, she worked in Bemidji as a secretary at the Dickinson Lumber Company and the Lakeside Furniture Store.

In the fall of 1949, she moved to Moorhead where she worked at Concordia College in the Business Office and took classes she enjoyed.

In 1956, she married Robert James Loeffler, professor of botany at Concordia College. They were blessed with four children. In 1973, Robert gave up teaching for heath reasons. In 1974, he became Site Manager of the Comstock Historic House where she successfully directed events for the next 28 years. Jane helped when needed and served as a docent.

After her husband left teaching, Jane worked at the Concordia College Health Service for six years and later as an executive secretary at the UND School of Medicine Department of Neuroscience in Fargo for thirteen years until she retired in 1991. Genealogy on the Lomen family, begun by her sister Inga, was pursued for several years by Jane, which is a project never completed.

Jane was always active in her church. She taught Sunday School when the children were young, sang in the choir, took part in women’s activities, quilting and serving groups, and attended Bible classes. She served on the Library Committee, the Archives Committee, and on the Churches United for the Homeless Serving Committee. She mentored refugees in English as a second language. After her husband’s death, she served on the Board of the Friends of the Comstock Historic House through 2008.

She was preceded in death by her husband; both her parents; three brothers: Edward, Arnold, and Carlton; and five sisters: Clara, Inga, Theresa, Esther, and Thora.

She is survived by two daughters: Leslie (Jeffrey) Haugstad, Moorhead, MN; Catherine (Matthew) Larson, Blaine, MN; two sons: Nathan Loeffler, Manchester, CT; and Clay (Kim) Loeffler, Blaine, MN; six grandchildren: Peter (Ruth) Haugstad, Bloomington, MN; Kristi (Michael) Baukol, Moorhead, MN; Brett, Katie, and Erik Larson, Blaine, MN; and Adam Loeffler, Blaine, MN; four great-grandchildren: Adelynn and Kaiya Haugstad, Bloomington, MN; Ryan and Kylie Baukol, Moorhead, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, January 21, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11:00 a.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Interment will be at Prairie Home Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.