Thora Skomedal

 Saying that Thora Skomedal was an educator in Thief River Falls is an honor for School District #564.  Thora always wanted to be a teacher for as long as she could remember.  She graduated from Thief River Falls High School and Teacher Training Center in 1915.  After teaching in rural schools for five years, she completed her degree in education at Bemidji State College.

     She spent the last two decades of her teaching career as a highly respected English and speech teacher at Lincoln High School.  Previous to her work at Lincoln High School, she taught elementary school at a Native American school near Bemidji, MN.  She also served as a principal in several schools and served as a superintendent of schools in Marshall County.  One of her favorite activities was directing co-curricular music.

     Working beyond retirement age, she continued to amaze classes with her wonderful sense of humor and dramatic flair until the age of 69.  Thora took great pleasure in bringing classic stories to life for her students; often saving for herself the roles she adored portraying in class.  Loved and admired by her students and colleagues, Thora inspired in others her thirst for learning and her love of literature.