Ann Loder

Milwaukee, Wis.

Ann Loder, 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, formerly of Minot and Tucson, Arizona, died December 9, 2024 in Milwaukee. Ann Louise (Hennes) Loder was born March 17, 1935 in Minot to Frank and Rose (Kelly) Hennes. She attended Minot Public Schools and graduated in 1953 from St. Leo’s High School.

While still in high school, Ann began working for KCJB (now KXMC) television, North Dakota’s first television station. Initially she did clerical work for the station, then became a “traffic manager” scheduling programs that came from the national network. However, her drawing talent was noticed and she was asked if in addition to her regular work duties she would host a children’s television program. “Ann’s Kiddie Corner” was broadcast live for half an hour once a week for several years. She had an easel and paper and would use crayons or other art materials to sketch pictures appropriate to whatever children’s music or story was being played from the control room. The program was popular and drew advertising business to the station. Along with Alice Swiggum (screen name Cis Hadley), who had a variety show, Ann was one of the first two women on television in North Dakota.

In 1957, she married LeRoy (“Joe”) Loder, a prominent Minot lawyer and Ward County States Attorney who led the cleanup of the Minot “High Third” red light district. Ann and Joe enjoyed many years in Minot before retiring to Tucson in 1988. Ann was an active member of St. Leo’s Parish, St. Jude’s Guild, the Minot Country Club, and the Minot Art Club. In retirement, she enjoyed golf, bridge, and quilting. She moved to Milwaukee in 2021 following Joe’s death in 2019.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Frank, sister Arlynn Blanz, and brothers James, Joseph, and MIchael Hennes. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses: John (Elizabeth), Dedham, Massachusetts; Bruce (Elizabeth), Fox Point, Wisconsin; James (Jennifer), Ruckersville, Virginia. She is also survived by grandchildren Thomas (Emily) Loder, Scarborough, Maine; Stephen Loder (Aja Watkins), Madison, Wisconsin; Caitlin (Trey) Bagwell, Oxford, Mississippi; and William Loder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; as well as great-grandchildren Clara Catherine Loder of Scarborough, Maine and Thomas Charles Bagwell of Oxford, Mississippi.

A private memorial service will be held in New York City in January 2025. If desired, memorials to The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, attn Will Loder, 212 West Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203.

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 2, 2025.