Dr. Sandra Faye Soltis

Dr. Sandra Faye Soltis of Rochester, MN, passed away on January 25, 2025, after living a full and wonderful life. Sandra was born on July 29, 1941, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Ernest and Harriet (Nelson) Berglund. Sandy, as she was known to her friends, graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1959, determined to achieve her goal of making a difference in education. The first step in achieving her goal was attending Moorhead State University and earning her bachelor's degree. The summer after graduation she met Frank, the love of her life, on a blind date. By a twist of fate, both had jobs lined up in southern Minnesota for the fall, Frank to Rochester to work at IBM and Sandy to Cannon Falls to start her career teaching high school English. They married on August 15, 1964, and enjoyed over 60 wonderful years. Their first home together was in Ankeny, Iowa where Sandy continued teaching while Frank attended Iowa State. Upon relocating to Rochester, Sandy paused her career to raise three boys and then started a long and impactful career with Rochester Public Schools, first as a learning disability teacher in Community Corrections and then as a junior high school English teacher. But teaching wasn't enough so while working full time and taking care of her family, she earned her Master's Degree from Winona State and then her Doctorate Degree from the University of Minnesota in Education Administration. She became the Assistant Principal at Willow Creek Junior High and then the Principal at Friedell Middle School. This was her true calling, and she loved it. After retiring, Sandy was proud to serve as an elected member of the Rochester School Board, continuing her passion to make a difference in education, which she did.

Known for her warmth and ability to connect with everyone, she may be most fondly remembered by the students who visited her in the principal's office and whose lives were positively changed forever. Sandy's friends and colleagues often describe her as determined, driven, and deeply caring. Outside of her professional life, she had many interests. She loved cooking, always trying to figure out recipes from her favorite restaurants and holiday meals were always a favorite. Sandy loved spending the winter planning her garden and was particularly proud of her lilies. Frank and Sandy enjoyed traveling the world, visiting many countries and cities around the globe with Vienna, Austria holding a special place in their hearts. Her gifts from Christmas shopping trips to London were always a delight to her family and her museum postcards were notoriously fun.

Sandy will be dearly missed by many including her husband, Frank; sons Mike (Emily), Brian (Moe), and Steve (Kate); sister, Jenifer; six grandchildren, Maia, Charlie, Caroline, Willie, Mary, and Lilly; her cherished English lab Vienna; and the many dear friends she made throughout her life's journey. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Harriet, infant sister Linda Jean, brothers-in-law Eric and Ron, and her beloved Uncle Randell, Aunt Lena, and Aunt Nellie.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring, with details to be announced at a later date but for now, go find a favorite bottle of wine and toast to her memory. She'd like that.

The family requests that memorial gifts be directed toward Alzheimer's research at Mayo Clinic. Memorials can be made online at philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donate or mailed to: Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905

To share a memory or offer condolences, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.