Sophie Svihel - 94

Foley, MN

April 28, 1917 - March 21, 2012

Sophie Svihel, age 94, of Foley, MN died Wednesday March 21, 2012 at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012, at St. John's Catholic Church, Foley. The Rev. Daniel Walz will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 Friday at the Foley Funeral Home in Foley and after 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the Foley Funeral Home. Parish prayers will be at 6:00 p.m. Friday. Arrangements were made by the Foley Funeral Home, Foley, MN.

Sophie Svihel was born April 28, 1917, in Phillips, WI to Jacob and Frances (Gruba) Gondeck. She married John W. Svihel on September 4, 1939, at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Gilman, MN. She lived most of her life in the Foley area. She was an excellent seamstress, cook and gardener and known for her warm hospitality. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren. Sophie and John owned and operated the Gambles-Skogmo Hardware store in Foley for over 40 years. She was active in many civic organizations and was a charter member of the Foley Lioness Club, where she was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Sophie was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, the Christian Mothers and was a soloist in the church choir.

She is survived by her sons and daughters: Carol (John) Michalke, Stone Lake, WI; Doug (Cathy), Crosslake, MN; Mary (Tom) Kaproth, Foley, MN; Philip (Michelle), Foley, MN and Peter (Karen), Foley, MN; brother, Jacob, Wayzata, MN, 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John W.; sons and daughter, Danny, John Allen and Christine; grandson, Johnny Michalke; brother, Val Gondeck and sister, Helen Bettendorf.