Arlys Lorraine Soeder
December 2, 1931 – September 11, 2024
Lorraine Soeder, age 92, of Waverly, Iowa and formerly of Denver, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 11, at Whispering Willows Care Center in Fredericksburg, Iowa.
Arlys was born December 2, 1931, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Helmer and Cora (Stoen) Orvella. She graduated from Decorah High School and then Luther College in Decorah where she obtained her teaching certificate. Arlys later received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wartburg College in Waverly. On August 27, 1952, Arlys was united in marriage to Wayne Soeder in Canton, South Dakota. Arlys taught country school for a couple years and then 1st grade at Waverly-Shell Rock for twenty-eight years.
Upon retirement, Arlys and Wayne spent 29 years wintering in Florida where she took up and enjoyed playing tennis. Arlys’ favorite pastime was walking and combing the beaches for seashells.
Arlys’s greatest love was her family, especially her grandchildren. They will all tell you she was a great Norwegian cook, and they especially loved her cinnamon rolls. Arlys published two family cookbooks for her family members. She served on the Bremer County Historical Society Museum board for 29 years. She enjoyed camping, gardening, sewing, and quilting.
Arlys’s memory is honored by: husband, Wayne Soeder of Denver, Iowa; three children, David (Shelby) Soeder of Waverly, Diane (Chad) Main of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Daryl (Mary) Soeder of Plymouth, Minnesota; eight grandchildren, Amy (Drew) Mattson of New Braunfels, Texas, Emily (Rakesh) Apte of Austin, Texas, Kara (Ryan) Main-Hester of Seattle, Washington, Kristin (Chris) Main of Wilmington, North Carolina, Ashley (Sam) Richter of Plymouth, Minnesota, Ranee Soeder of Boise, Idaho, Amanda (Chris) Leonard of West Fargo, North Dakota, and Brett (Kalie) Soeder of Big Lake, Minnesota; and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lillian (Harris) Bruvold; brother, Willard (Eloise) Orvella; her mother and father-in-law, Spencer and Violet Soeder; two sisters-in-law, Mavis Bigler and Wanda Anderson; and brother-in-law, DeVale Soeder.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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