To view the flowers from Lowell’s service, click here: Lowell Latimer Flowers
A livestream of the service will be available by accessing www.firstlutheran.tv
Dr. Lowell Francis Latimer, 90, Minot, longtime Minot Public Schools teacher, administrator and advocate for education, died Friday, August 13, 2021, in a Minot hospital.
Lowell was born October 20, 1930, in McHenry County, North Dakota, the son of Melvin A. and Olga C. (Frantsvog) Latimer. He was raised in Voltaire, ND and graduated from Velva High School. His college education was interrupted by service in the US Army with a tour of duty in Korea, during the Korean Conflict from June of 1952 to March of 1954. He was honorably discharged as corporal and returned to college in Minot earning a bachelor’s degree in education. He received a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado and was awarded the Doctor of Education Degree in School Administration, Supervision and Curriculum at the University of North Dakota. He taught in area rural schools and was a teacher, elementary principal and assistant superintendent for the Minot Public Schools. He served as interim superintendent for one year prior to retiring in 1993 having served the Minot schools for 38 years.
Lowell was united in marriage to Ann E. Sather on June 6, 1958, in Minot, where they continued to live and raise their family. She was a dedicated helpmate making it possible for him to be involved in many activities. When he was well dressed in public, he was pleased to say, “Ann places my clothing for the day on the bed each morning and I put them on.”
He has been active both professionally in education and the community. During retirement, Lowell has been of assistance to foundations and capitol fund drives. He served several years as executive secretary of the Minot Public School Foundation. He was a charter board member for the Minot Area Community Foundation and served as secretary for many years. Lowell was a member of the Alliance of Nonprofits and in 2019 received the Lifetime Nonprofit Achievement Award. He was helpful to Metigoshe Ministries during the drive to secure funds for a major expansion. He was a charter member of the Minot Dollars for Scholars and worked to provide funds for the distribution of scholarships to graduates of the high schools in Minot.
His interest in education, children and families was expressed through his many years of membership in the PTA. He served on two occasions as president of the North Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers and held many positions on the board of directors. As he finished his second stint as president, he vowed to begin a PTA Unit which would be available for those who had been active in PTA in the past and still had an interest in the welfare of youth. The result was the Minot Golden Oaks PTA. He was an Honorary Life Member of both the National and North Dakota Congresses of Parents and Teachers.
He was co-chairman for the city of Minot celebration during the United States Bicentennial celebration. It was a very successful event and earned for him the coveted Genie Award from the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce.
The HØstfest was a great place to volunteer. He became the lead person in the development of the HØstfest in the Schools program which brought Scandinavian culture into the schools.
Minot Lions Club was his service club. He dedicated many hours to support the club as individuals and groups in the Minot area were served. He was honored by his club membership as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He served a term as District Governor for the central part of North Dakota. He was enthusiastic about the work of the Lions and was an inspiration to clubs during visitations. He was awarded the International Presidential Award.
Professionally, Lowell was deeply involved in the curriculum for the school district and the state of North Dakota. He was a charter and longtime member of the North Dakota Curriculum Council. He worked with committees dedicated to the enhancement of health and health education in the state. His interest in the arts caused him to appoint and support a Minot Public School Arts Committee. He also supported the Early Childhood and the Reading Associations.
The Association of Teacher Educators locally and statewide had the benefit of his participation for many years especially during the early years of development. He was a charter member of the Northwest Area Phi Delta Kappa chapter and later served as area coordinator for Phi Delta Kappa International. He earned the status of Emeritus Membership.
He was particularly pleased with his involvement as coordinator between the architects and a professional school planning team in the construction of Magic City High School.
His professional memberships included Association of School Administrators, Association of Teachers Educators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, life member of National Education Association, life member of National Association of Elementary School Principals, Minot Area Personnel Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Parent Teacher Association.
He was appointed by Governor John Hoeven to serve on the North Dakota Teacher Fund for Retirement Board. He served on the North Dakota Retired Teacher Association Board of Directors, serving a two year term as president. He served for several years as the executive secretary for North Dakota School Study Council.
Civic and community organizations included Minot Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives. He served two years as the chairman of SCORE. He was a charter board member for the Minot Area Community Foundation and served as secretary for several years.
He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, Elks, American Legion, Sons of Norway and Alliance of Nonprofits.
He possessed many certificates of appreciation and awards, among them are the Roughrider Award for Health Promotion, Chamber of Commerce Bicentennial Award, Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year, Minot Area Personnel Association, Association of Teacher Educators, and North Dakota Library Association. He received the Greater North Dakota Association Educator Award in 1991, the Minot State University Alumni Golden Award and the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award. He was honored to have the media center in Hoeven Elementary School given his name.
Dr. Latimer was a collector of apples. He had over 300 on display at the time of his retirement. He thought of them as representing the excellent educators with whom he worked during his 38 years in the Minot Public Schools.
His church family, First Lutheran Church, was important to him. He was regular in attendance as he gained spiritual inspiration for the next week. His enthusiasm for life caused him to volunteer and assist at the church and many other groups and organizations. He served on the church council, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir.
Dr. Latimer is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Ann, Minot; son John Latimer and wife Karen, Bellingham, WA; daughter Nancy Liffrig and husband David, Starkville, MS; grandchildren Nicholas (Jerica), Thomas (Victoria) and Daniel (Olivia) Liffrig, Julia and Caroline Latimer; great-grandchildren Sophie, Hudson, Harper, Sienna and Charlotte Liffrig; sisters-in-law Lillian Latimer, Hazen, ND and Karen Latimer, Voltaire, ND along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dr. Latimer was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Olga Latimer, parents-in-law, Emil and Selma Sather, sisters, Marilyn Anderson and Lou Jean Kelley; brothers, Lyle, Robert and Marlin Latimer; sister-in-law Karen Holst and brothers-in-law Orwayne (Bud) Holst, Franklin Kelley and Carl Anderson.
Celebration of Dr. Lowell Latimer’s Life: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021, at First Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service please access www.firstlutheran.tv
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Friday, August 20, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred and may be given to First Lutheran Church Foundation, Minot Public School Foundation or to an organization of the donor’s choice.
