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Per Mark Eckblad, Ragni Welle-Stranded passed on October 2nd, 2025. Ragni's father, Edward Welle-Strand, was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement from 1944. Ragni was married to famous Norwegian writer, Edvsrd Hoem from 1982 - 1995. Mr Hoem was a noted poet and novelist. Their daughter Ine Hoem also is a famous personality. Ine, born in 1985, is a Norwegian jazz singer and lead singer of the genre band PLEbO.
Hvil i fred, Rest in Peace
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Judy Hoppe (Walthers)
I have been in contact with Ragni's daughter, Ine Hoem. Sharing afew messages:
Nov 17, 2025
Hello Ine,
Great to connect! Your mother and I sat next to each other in a capella choir. I remember especially a Christmas concert when she sang Silent Night in German.
It was exciting to learn about a student from another country and I found that we were all pretty much the same. We enjoyed typical teenage activities --school dances, traveling to nearby towns, boys! I believe the gal she stayed with, Lynn Foley, has passed away. Was sad to see your mother has, as well.Tell me about her later years please.
We exchanged letters for awhile. I particularly recall one sent from Ragni after a tour of New York City and Washington DC that the AFS students took before returning to their homelands. They saw all the highlights. It was bittersweet for her--she had grown to love the US, but was eager to return home.
We have a high school class website. Would it be ok to share an update about your mother?
It looks like you're living your dream. Wonderful that you have a successful career and sharing the spotlight with your father!
Ine's response on December 2, 2025:
So glad to hear these stories about my mother. I could never imagine her singing Silent Night solo. Yes, she talked about Lynn many times. They were good friends.
My mother worked as a teacher all her life, and she was very popular among the students majoring in Norwegian og religion at the college. She retired about 13 years ago, and lived with her husband Bjorn in Oslo, close to her family and friends.My mother became a widow in 2022, her husband Bjorn died very suddenly and realized my mother had developed dementia. She was fine for a couple of years, lived alone but was very happy and active. Spending time with her friends, her grandchildren, she has three: Karen (22) and my girls Serianna (7) and Ragni (3). She also loved reading and going to concerts and the cinema she was diagnosed with cancer fall 2022, which was possible to treat with medication for awhile. But this year the medication stopped working and there was nothing to be done. The last month was painful, but she lived at home about a month before she died, and was also very pleased with her life and her family, although her dementia had developed quite a bit the last year. She stopped eating and needed professional care. She died October 2nd in Sagenehjemmet, at the age of 79. We miss her very much.
You can write this on the website if you'd like. :)
All the best, Ine
Charles Carothers
A small world story: Summer of 1967, I was on a flight to Oslo traveling with the Purdue Glee Club. I instantly recognized Ragni as one of the flight attendants. I quickly introduced myself and we chatted as much as we could on the flight. We exchanged addresses and corresponded a couple times after that (no email or cell phones back then). She was such a lovely person.
Marika (Rikki) Maragos (Siavelis)
Judy: I remember that Christmas Concert when Ragni sang "Silent Night" in German! You and I didn't stand next to each other in A Cappella Choir, but I do remember tearing up thinking she was away from her home singing a Christmas Carol in German. It really touched me. I was thankful to have been there to hear her sing, knowing all of us really are the same.
It was interesting to read Chuck's comment about being on a flight with her! What a conincidence and so great at that.
She will be missed by all of us at Park who were fortunate to have known her.
Rikki
James Madsen
Ragni and I went skiing together while she was here and got to know each other. She was a wonderful gal and always enjoyed her company. I also had the opportunity to meet her and her family in Norway the summer of 65 after my visit to family in Copenhagen. I have thought about her often over the years. Sounds like she had a good life and well deserved. Rest in peace my friend.