Valdine L Wollan

Valdine Lona Weiss Wollan, 80, of Fergus Falls, MN, died peacefully on Saturday, January 17, 2015, in Fergus Falls, 7 days after her 80th birthday. Her last days were filled with family and friends, music and books, just as all her previous days were.

Val was born on January 10, 1935, in Pelican Rapids, MN, the only daughter of Clifford and Beatrice (Kroll) Weiss. She grew up on the family farm near Erhard MN running wild with animals and her many cousins. Val attended country school near Erhard, and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1952, where she was at the top of her class. She liked to remind her family that in order to more easily get to high school each day, she moved to Pelican and lived with friends in an apartment when she was only 15 years old, showing an independent and adventurous streak at a young age. A life-long learner, Val earned her Bachelors degree from Moorhead State University in 1968 and her Masters Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota in 1984.

On June 7, 1957, Val married Michael A. Wollan, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Erhard. They were married for 57 years. 1958, 1963 and 1966 brought the births of their 3 children, Gregory Michael Wollan, Vicki Wollan Smith, and Debra Wollan Opatz. The family made their home in Fergus Falls.

Val was a dedicated teacher, bringing the joy of learning to her students for 39 years in the Fergus Falls school system. Many of her students over the years would greet her on the street, in the grocery store, or anywhere in town, to tell her how they remembered her in the classroom as one of their favorite and most creative teachers.

Val was an avid reader, lover of books, learning, political debate, journal-writing, music and travel. She and Mike made an annual pilgrimage to Itasca State Park with friends and family, several visits to Germany in the last few years, and last summer enjoyed a stay at a dude ranch near Yellowstone with the Opatz and Smith families. She and Mike were members of what has to be the longest-running dinner club in Fergus Falls (possibly America) as well as founding members of “The Old Gang” – friends of over half a century. Most of all, she was a loving and dedicated friend, mother, grandmother and wife – the very meaning of the word family. Summers at the cabin on Jewett Lake are legendary – nightly pontoon rides, board games with the grand kids, bonfires and big nightly dinners on the grill – traditions that will continue because of her passion for the lake.

Val’s grandchildren remember her as loving, smart, funny, a great cook and a champion marshmallow-roaster and popcorn popper. She instilled a love of nature and generosity of spirit in her kids and grandkids as well as her love of books and reading - shown through her much beloved book club and passed on to her grandchildren, all avid readers. She led the library committee at First Lutheran Church, where she was a member for decades. Christmas Eve services singing “Silent Night” by candlelight was one of Val’s most treasured traditions. As a member of First Lutheran, Val was a person of deep and abiding faith, another gift to her family.
Preceding Val in death are her parents, sister and brother in law, Merle (Roy) Cox, and several close and loving friends and cousins.

Survivors include Val’s husband, Michael Wollan of Fergus Falls, children Greg Wollan (Kim) of White Bear Lake, MN, Vicki Smith of Pacifica, CA and Debra (Jon) Opatz of Fergus Falls; her grandchildren, Samuel, Luke, Jake and Grace Opatz and Maren and Elinor Smith; brother-in-law, Jack (Monnie) Berry; aunts, Laverne Hanson and Nettie Weiss. She is also survived by numerous cousins.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2015 with a 6 p.m. prayer service at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Reverend Saul Stensvaag
Interment: First Lutheran North Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls