Iola Rokke, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at her daughter, Eunice Grothe's home near Thief River Falls, MN, at the age of 95.

A visitation will take place from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Per CDC guidelines, no more than 10 people will be allowed at a time.

A private family Graveside Service will be held at 12:45 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Newfolden, MN.

A Memorial Service is planned for a later date.

Iola Severine Fisher was born in her parents' farm home on August 17, 1924.  Dr. Johnson of Newfolden attended her birth.  The farm was in New Maine Township north of Newfolden.  She was the oldest of four siblings, the others being Charles, Burton, and Esther.  Her parents were Ben and Selma Fisher.  The family's house was later moved to town and is still a residence there.

Iola was baptized into Christ by Pastor John Hjelmeland on October 7, 1924.  Later, at age thirteen, she was confirmed at the The Mission Church in Newfolden.  When she was sixteen, her family joined Bethlehem Lutheran Free Church in Newfolden.

Beginning in 1930, she attended a one-room country school called Goodwill School, District 140.  She walked two miles to and from school each day, and it would almost always be dark when she arrived back home again.  The school was crowded with children, and so, after Iola completed seventh grade, she and her brother Charles transferred to the town school at Newfolden to help alleviate the crowding.

Charles and Iola graduated together from high school in 1942, in a class of thirty-seven graduates.  Charles was the class valedictorian and went on to serve in the United States Navy in World War II.  Iola was the salutatorian and went to the Warren Teacher Training Department to become qualified to teach in rural schools.

Iola was hired by a country school north of Thief River Falls near Saterdal Church.  She had nine students in six grades, and one of her expected duties was to build a fire in the furnace each morning.  After one year, she went to Moorhead State Teachers College to earn a two-year teaching certificate.   Then she taught in schools at Chokio, Strandquist, Alvarado, and Lancaster.  She also attended one semester at LBI, Lutheran Bible Institute, in Minneapolis.

On December 22, 1950, Iola married Ingvald Rokke, a rural letter carrier from Strandquist, Minnesota.  They were blessed with three children: Ralph, born in 1951; Philip, born in 1953; and Eunice, born in 1957.

Iola began working in the post office at Strandquist in 1965, and retired in 1985, after twenty years of service.  In 1988, Ingvald and Iola sold their home in Strandquist, and moved to Thief River Falls, where Iola volunteered at a Christian School for about thirteen years.  After Ingvald passed away on July 3, 1990, Iola continued living in Thief River until her death on May 12, 2020, at age ninety-five.  On her last day, she had a happy visit with all three of her children, none knowing that it would be their last visit together.  She passed away later that day at her daughter's home near Thief River Falls.

In her later years, she loved to worship at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden, where her son, Philip, was the pastor.  She would often get rides to church with Ruth Holmaas, and home again with granddaughter Jessica Jacobson.  Their kindness to Iola is much appreciated by her family.

Iola will be buried beside Ingvald at Oak Grove Cemetery in Newfolden in a private, family service on Saturday, May 16, 2020.  Later a public memorial service for all her family and friends will be held when restrictions are lifted concerning the Covid-19 pandemic.

Iola's large family loved and respected her very much.  Her family includes three children and their spouses: Ralph (Kathi) Rokke, Philip (Marlene) Rokke, and Eunice (David) Grothe; thirteen grandchildren and their spouses: Joyce (Greg) Miller, Shari (Brian) Hanka, Joshua Rokke, Jessica (Darin) Jacobson, Ben (Suzy) Rokke, Kristi (Mitchell)  Swanson, Isaiah (Abigail) Grothe, Bethany (Travis) Weesner, Joanna (Scott) Snodgress, Leah (Josh) Tutt, Hannah (Erik) Kolberg, Ezra Grothe, and Daniel (Maryse) Grothe; and twenty-two great-grandchildren .