Sophia Passmel was born December 18, 1883 on a farm five miles west of Valley City. Her parents were Mathias Kramer and Marian Koehn Kramer. She attended a country school there, later attended the Normal School and then got her B.A. Degree from the State Teachers College in Valley City.
Mrs. Passmel taught a number of locations while going to college and after graduation. Some of the schools were Hobart, Grand Prairie, South Heart, Center, Oriska, Sibley Trail and Uxbridge. She was married in 1931 to Anthony Passmel of Valley City. He died in 1937. She then went back to teaching school for a number of years before retiring and living in her home in Valley City. She enjoyed gardening and yard work and kept busy with that. She took an active part in her organizations and church work. She celebrated her 90th birthday in December 1973. She passed away on March 25, 1974.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 190