Sister Lois Spors

Sister Lois Spors, 75, died unexpectedly at Villa Saint Vincent early in the morning on July 27, 2013. Sister Lois Spors was born Lois Marie on December 19, 1937, the last of the six children of John Andrew Spors and Mary Elizabeth (Hackert) Spors. Lois was a twin to her brother, Leon, who was born 15 minutes before she was. Lois spent her childhood near Rosen, MN, on the family farm which her grandfather had homesteaded in the 1800s. Lois attended elementary school at Saint Joseph's School, Rosen, and Mount Saint Benedict Academy for high school where she was the valedictorian of her senior class. She entered the Mount Saint Benedict community on January 2, 1955, and became a novice after receiving the name Sister Leon Marie and the Benedictine habit on July 2, 1955. After a year-long novitiate she made first monastic profession on July 11, 1956 and her final profession on July 11, 1959. Sister Leon Marie began her college education at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, MN, but she received her bachelor's degree cum laude in mathematics and physics from Clarke College in Dubuque, IA. Later, she obtained a National Science Foundation grant to study mathematics at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she received a Master's Degree in mathematics. Sister Lois' career in education extended from the first grade to some college-level classes at Corbett College in Crookston, MN. Sister Lois began her ministry as an educator at Cathedral Grade School in Crookston, where served for six years during which she taught first, second, fifth and seventh grades. Most of her teaching career was at Mount Saint Benedict High School (1965 – 1982) and Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks (1982 – 1992). While she was teaching and supervising boarding students at Mount Saint Benedict, she went back to her baptismal name of Lois. Upon completion of her teaching ministry, Sister Lois returned to Mount Saint Benedict Monastery where she assisted Sisters Anne Marie Geray and Lorraine Kraft at Mount Saint Benedict Center. Her mechanical skills in dealing with such things as the sound system were much appreciated by Center staff and the monastic community. 1994 to 2012 she was director of initial formation, guiding new members as they transitioned to becoming members of a monastic community. Sister Lois assumed the role of Alumni Director of Mount Saint Benedict Academy and single-handedly designed, produced and mailed the Mount Saint Benedict Alum News. She connected with and coordinated many class reunions. Sister Lois took great interest in the lives of former students and enjoyed all her contacts with them. Sister Lois' talents included calligraphy and the graphic arts, and she was frequently called upon to design cards for the gift shop and for individual or community needs. The words "no time" was not in her vocabulary. Her one request was "tell me what you want to say," and Sister Lois would soon have accomplished the task. Sister Lois also served as editor of the Crookston Benedictine and coordinator at the monastery reception desk. Sister Lois was a peaceful presence in whatever capacity she served. As one by one her siblings passed on Sister Lois continued to take great interest in her nieces' and nephews' lives and accomplishments. Sister Lois is preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Elizabeth Spors, her brothers Lawrence and Father Roman and her sister Mildred. Sister Lois is survived by her twin brother Leon (Mariann) of Fort Collins, CO, her sister Marita, (Marietta, MN), the sisters of Saint Benedict Monastery, and many nieces and nephews. Reception of Sister Lois' body will be at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 with visitation from 5:30 until the 7:00 p.m. prayer service. Sister Lois' funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. with Msgr. Roger Grundhaus presiding. All services will be in Sacred Heart Chapel, Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 620 Summit Ave. Crookston, MN.

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Visitation
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Service
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
cemetery
Wednesday, July 31, 2013