Lois Sostarich

Lois Sostarich, 82, of Green Valley, Arizona, passed away peacefully on September 6th, 2024. Born in Big Sandy, Montana, Lois was the fourth of five children born to Marshall and Emma Kulbeck. She was raised on the farm that her grandparents homesteaded in 1913.

Lois excelled in music, she had perfect pitch and could play by ear. She would say she couldn’t read music all that well – she just needed to hear the song to play it. Though she could play several instruments, she focused on piano and organ and left Montana after high school to study music at Concordia College and the University of Minnesota where she met her first husband Floyd Dahlberg. They married in 1965 and had twins Jon and Janis in 1970. They spent many years together enjoying the Minnesota life of lakes and cheering on the Golden Gophers. Floyd passed away in 1994 and after her retirement from Northwest Airlines in 1997, Lois moved to Green Valley, Arizona to enjoy her retired life.

It was there that Lois met Tony Sostarich and they married in 1999 with a family wedding in Big Sandy. Though it was too short, they lived a wonderful life of hiking, car shows, spending summers in Montana, enjoying each other and wonderful friends until he passed in 2013.

Lois lived a life full of compassion, strength and generosity. She touched the lives of everyone she met with her kind heart, confident spirit, and unwavering dedication to her family and friends. She valued time together and the stories that time gave more than anything – which included getting on a horse and going clay shooting to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Throughout her life, Lois was known for her selflessness, always giving more than she took. She was a pillar of strength in difficult times yet her gentle spirit always brought comfort to those around her. Whether through her generosity or her heartfelt conversations, Lois left an indelible mark on the lives of all who knew her.

Lois is survived by her beloved family: her children Jon (Taunya) Dahlberg and Janis (Matt) Hughes, her cherished grandchildren Sarah Dahlberg, Jacob (Serene) Dahlberg, Emma, and Jason Hughes; her sister Marcia Kaste, sister-in-law Shirley Kulbeck, cousin Barb Berglund and numerous nieces and nephews. Her love for her family was boundless, and her legacy of kindness and warmth will live on through them.

Her family invites those who knew and loved Lois to celebrate her remarkable life next summer in Big Sandy, Montana over Homecoming Weekend. While she will be deeply missed, her memory will continue to inspire and uplift those who were fortunate enough be touched by her presence.