Lois Pagnac, 80

Lois Pagnac, 80, of East Grand Forks, Minn., formerly of Stephen, Minn., passed away on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Grand Forks, N.D.
Lois Annette Langen was born on Sept. 26, 1944, the youngest and only daughter to Odin and Lillian (Clauson) Langen in Hallock, Minn. She grew up on the family farm west of Kennedy, where she spent many hours in the kitchen with her mother baking and mastering her cooking skills. It is there where she learned her specialties: making homemade buns (knowns as Grandma Lois’ buns), cinnamon rolls, lefse and lutefisk, in true Norwegian fashion. With her dad being a congressman, Lois attended her freshman year of school in Washington, D.C. Being a northwest Minnesota small town girl, she chose to return to Kennedy to finish high school after being reprimanded at her job as a deli clerk where she had accepted Canadian money, a common practice in northern Minnesota at that time, and angered her boss for taking “foreign currency.” She graduated a Kennedy Rocket with the class of 1962. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Lois married Kenneth Pagnac on June 8, 1968, at the Red River Lutheran Church in rural Kennedy. They spent most of their 56 years of married life on their family farm west of Stephen. Their farm included wheat, soybeans and sugar beets. Lois spent many hours in the kitchen preparing meals for the farm hands, but could also be found in the fields, tractors and trucks. Their home was the gathering place for hosting many family holidays which, of course, included all of her favorite food and baked goods.
Ken and Lois were blessed with raising three sons, Dustin, Darrin and Kevin.
Lois’ education and skills found her working as a social worker for Marshall County for most of her career, and finishing her working days with the NW Regional Development Commission, where she happily retired and welcomed her “every day is a weekend” routine.
Throughout her career, she was often the “go-to person” who always had the answers her coworkers were looking for. Her coworkers were never fond of her love for snow and snowmen, and often moved her decorations around and out of her office.
Lois loved reading, baking and trying new recipes, fishing and hunting. Countless hours were spent sitting around a campfire where there was never a shortage of singing, laughter and even happy tears. Ken and Lois loved spending time at “the trailer” at Rocky Point, and always played the game “I see the lake first” upon arrival. Her love of snow and snowmen made winter her favorite season. She loved her grandchildren, and looked forward to taking in all their school and sporting events. Always disappointed when events weren’t broadcasted or live streamed, she will now have the best seat in the house with no radio or TV required.
Lois is deeply loved and missed by: her husband, Ken; her sons, Dustin (Heidi), Darrin (Adria), and Kevin (Lisa); grandchildren, Colten and Caden Pagnac, Paxton Amundgaard, Preston and Morgan Pagnac; brother-in-law, Keith Pagnac; sisters-in-law, MarySue Eckhart, Pam Anderson, Dawn Langen, and Kathy Rynning; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Wayne and Lynden Langen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Red River Lutheran Church.
The funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Red River Lutheran Church in rural Kennedy, with visitation for one hour before services at the church.
Interment was at Stephen Cemetery, Stephen.
Arrangements with DuBore Funeral Home of Warren, www.duborefuneralhome.com.