The importance of giving back
Lois and Noel Stratmoen have always understood the importance of giving back. Their parents taught them the importance of helping others. Having lived in Northfield for 57 years, the couple is deeply rooted in the community and want to share why they have chosen to give to the Northfield Hospital Foundation over the years.
Noel and Lois were high school sweethearts in Dawson, Minnesota. After graduation, Noel went to South Dakota State to get a teaching degree in Industrial Arts. Lois, sharing Noel’s passion for education, followed a year later to get her math teaching degree. After graduation, they married, got teaching jobs and eventually had two boys.
In 1965, they moved to Northfield for work and to start a family. Noel took a job at Sheldahl and Lois worked for the Northfield Chamber of Commerce. Later, Lois stayed home to raise the boys. When the boys went to school, Lois was offered a chance to go back to school to become a computer programmer, and worked as a programmer for 23 years in the business office at St. Olaf College.
One of the first things Lois did when they moved to town was join the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary. The auxiliary is a service organization dedicated to service projects, fundraising and volunteering to support the hospital. Through her years on the auxiliary, she’s gotten to know various employees and administrators and found the organization to be excellent.
When Noel was offered a job in the cities, they thought about moving, but decided they couldn’t leave the community. “We loved it in Northfield, and we knew the boys were getting a great education and we didn’t want to move them,” said Lois. Noel commuted for 27 years, emphasizing their dedication to the community.
As their professional lives unfolded, so did their involvement in the Northfield community. Lois served on the hospital board during the renovation and expansion of the old hospital. She later became chairperson and was involved at the beginning of the community embarking on building a new hospital that would cater to the diverse medical needs of the town.
Noel, on the other hand, delved into education matters, joining a committee evaluating educational materials and eventually was elected to the school board where he has served since 1980, the longest serving school board member in the state of Minnesota.
Having grown up in a rural farming community, they saw firsthand the importance of helping others. “My mom was a nurse, and she took care of very ill patients on the night shift at the local hospital,” said Noel. “We witnessed neighbors coming together to help when a farmer became ill,” said Lois.
Lois and Noel have always felt that Northfield Hospital was an integral part of the Northfield community, and important to the city’s continued growth and vibrancy. “Having a hospital in town is as important as having good schools,” said Noel.
A year ago, the two of them really felt the importance of a local hospital when Noel became very, very ill. His illness showcased the very reason they value and support Northfield Hospital.
When asked about their motivation for giving to the hospital, Lois and Noel expressed a shared sentiment, “We believe in supporting an excellent institution that is vital to our community.” The couple acknowledged the changing landscape of healthcare and the challenges the hospital faces, prompting them to contribute to its ongoing success. “We have a very high regard for the hospital and its staff, and we want it to be here for future generations.”
“We’ve been blessed many times and it’s important to give back to the community. Giving is contagious! If we can inspire somebody else to give to Northfield Hospital to help patients and their families, then sharing our story is important.”