Someone You Should Know: Lois Zahn, motivating seniors with a smile and song

Minot, N.D. ( KXNET ) — “I’m not going to retire. I think I’m just going to be like, some of these movie stars and stuff that goes forever,” exclaimed Lois Zahn, activity director, Northland Pace.

And if Lois Zahn’s life was a movie, it would be chock-full of action.
Lois knew she had a purpose to fulfill, so less than two years after retiring from Trinity Health, she re-entered the workforce.

“My saying is it’s not over till God says it’s over. And just enjoy life,” Lois said.

Lois says she enjoys it all, from her work as an activity’s director, to running her own karaoke business for over 30 years, to overseeing the non-profit Frozen Fingers , keeping old time and bluegrass music alive, she is always on the move.

“I really like entertaining, putting smiles on people’s face, doing different things,” Lois shared. “So, I feel like it’s my day, and not my work.”

While it doesn’t feel like work, Lois spends much of her time as the activities director at Northland PACE, which is a program that provides community-based services to seniors.

“I totally love my seniors. I call them my recycled teenagers,” Lois exclaimed. “And we have fun and like coming up with different events that they can attend, to keep them busy and they always have a purpose in life.”

And her seniors, like Ted Rowe Bohr, love her right back.

“God has blessed me when I met Lois,” shared Ted Rowe Bohr, PACE participant. “She’s full of energy. People my age, you hang around them and they have no energy at all, they have no ‘ump,’ but Lois has got it!”

And she knows exactly how to get that energy flowing in her seniors!
“All right,” Lois exclaimed!

With tunes playing, it’s time for some action.
Lois knows how to keep her seniors busy and enjoying life with activities such as ladder ball, parachutes, arts and crafts, card games and more.

While Lois comes up with most of the activities, she likes to ask her seniors for ideas.
One of her residents, being a farmer, had a very specific request.

“’Well, you know how long it’s been since I milked cow?’ So, I brought in a cow! And I had residents milk the cow,” Lois exclaimed. “We had farmers day, and I had this big barn and whole bunch of stuff. And they all loved it.

The fun doesn’t end there.
Lois says music has always been a part of her life, starting with her parents.

“Mom would sit with her accordion, you know, and she would play,” Lois explained. “And then people would come and jam and they would have the fiddles, the guitars and the banjo and all that, as it kept growing, it got to go into a festival.”

The Frozen Fingers Festival, and Lois promised her mom she would carry on the tradition.

“I’m proud to say I’m president of the frozen fingers Music Association,” said Lois.

Keeping the music alive and her energy and positivity flowing.
Lois says there’s always a way to help others who are experiencing challenging times as well.

“Just by you giving them a smile and just like, we care attitude,”Lois said. “It’s going to bring the best out of people, and we need more of that.”

Lois Zahn, a woman who brings joy and happiness to anybody she meets, it Someone You Should Know.

You can see Lois in action, and enjoy a country hoedown with her, too!
Salute to Seniors is Tuesday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Minot Auditorium.

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