Lois Mae Bormann

Lois Bormann, 92 died Monday, December 15, 2014 at her home. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm Friday, December 19, 2014 at Grace Lutheran Church, Parker with burial in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will begin at 5pm Thursday with family present at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm. Lois Mae Bormann was born October 28, 1922, on a farm near Centerville, South Dakota, to Katherine (Johnson) and Ollie Overgaard. She was one of four children: brother Donald (Marie), sisters Carol (Palmer) Dragsten and Mary Ann (Arnie) Schraan. She attended school at Rose Cottage in Lincoln County and graduated from Centerville High School. She graduated from South Dakota State University (SDSU) at Brookings, SD, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1943. Lois taught home economics at Miller, SD from 1943 to 1945. She was united in marriage to Earl J. Bormann of Stickney, SD, on November 24, 1945, in Centerville, SD. They lived in Platte, SD, where Earl worked at the Platte Enterprise newspaper and Lois taught home economics at the Platte High School. In 1947, they purchased the South Dakota Mail newspaper in Plankinton, SD. They published it until 1949 when they moved to Parker, SD, and purchased The New Era newspaper. They published The New Era for 37 years and retired in 1986. They spent winters in Arizona and traveled extensively with her two sisters and their husbands, a group they coined the “Six-Pack”. Lois and Earl raised three daughters, Kathleen (Donald) Burns of Sioux Falls, Sharon (Rodney) Osthus of Olivia, MN, and Jill of San Diego, CA. She has six living grandchildren: Paul (Katie) Burns of Sheffield, MA; John Burns of Mankato, MN; Steven Burns of St. Paul, MM; Katie (Steven) Tuthill of Waconia, MN; Thomas (Alicia) Osthus of Olivia, MN; and Anne Osthus of Minneapolis, MN. She has nine great-grandchildren: Ariannah Burns, Annabelle and Billy Burns, McKenna and Drew Tuthill, Julian and Vanya Burns, Logan and Griffin Osthus. In 2012, Lois moved to the Inn on Westport in Sioux Falls, SD. Lois’s main goal in life was following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. She had deep love and devotion to her church, family, community, and country. She was a loving homemaker and wife who was happy serving others and putting them first. Humility, sense of humor, caring for others, and love of the outdoors describe her. Lois was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Parker. One favorite Bible Verse that gave her strength and comfort was “My God shall provide all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Lois worked at The New Era and learned to edit the newspaper and operate the linotype. She and Earl notably had the foresight to switch to offset printing before it became widespread. Her hobbies included needlework, especially Hardanger, golfing, and flower gardening. Lois loved walking outdoors everyday. She also enjoyed her coffee cup collection and ceramic bird collection. Lois was preceded in death by her parents, infant twin sisters, brother Donald Overgaard, nephew Roger Overgaard, infant granddaughter Jill Kathleen Osthus, grandson Matthew Burns, son-in-law Donald Burns, husband Earl, and daughter Sharon Osthus. The family of Lois Bormann thanks you for your presence and support today. A special thanks to those who cared for her in the last days of her life. Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church.