LEWISTON – Lola Waterman Sigel, 104, passed away to be with her Lord on May 19, just short of her 105th birthday. She was a brief resident at the Auburn Home for Aged Women and Marshwood Nursing Home, previously residing since 1997, with her son and his wife, Donald and Evelyn Waterman in Wales.

She was born July 2, 1899, on Oak Hill, Litchfield, to Fred and Effie Spear Mitchell. She graduated from Litchfield Academy in 1917. Determined to further her education, she entered Bates College and lived with the Peck family on College Street, Lewiston, as a “mother’s helper,” earning her board and room. Despite filling in as a teacher in various localities for short lengths of time, she graduated in the Class of 1922 from Bates College.

She then moved to East Hampton, N.Y., on Long Island, taught for two years and on June 24, 1924, she married Sabattus farmer, Erland H. Waterman and moved back to Maine, to his family farm. Erland died suddenly in February of 1939, leaving her with two very young sons, a dairy farm, an International Harvester dealership and various other smaller enterprises to manage. With the help of faithful friends, Frank and Louise Hinkley, she was able to keep the dairy farm going and had to liquidate all the other enterprises during World War II.

On Dec. 22, 1942, she married Frank Sigel and spent over 50 years with Franz as an Army wife. During his assignments, she remained at her Sabattus farm until her sons graduated from the University of Maine and could assume the duties of running the farm. All the while, she continued to teach in Wales, Litchfield, Lisbon Falls and Sabattus High School, where she was assistant principal. She coached the girls’ basketball team, was a past matron of the Lakeside Chapter, OES, a member of the Sabattus School Board, Farm Bureau, Wales Grange and many agricultural boards.

As soon as her sons came home, she left to join Franz in Georgia, and taught GIs there and in Germany, where they lived for three years. Through all the other years, she returned to Sabattus for the summers and Franz joined her whenever he could. She came alone from California, when Franz was in Korea for two tours of duty. She loved swimming in cold Tacoma Lakes, or hosting “hot dog roasts” on the ledges of the farm for her many grandchildren and telling wondrous stories to them, mostly fictional and exciting, and giving them each Native American names. She loved Longfellow’s poems and at her 100th birthday party, was able to recite, from memory, his poem, “The Wreck of the Hesperus.”

She authored a widely popular book, even sought by many today, “I Fell Among Farmers,” with an account of her ancestors’ struggles and her own, trying to improve a dairy herd, endure sickness and loss of loved ones and managing to overcome life’s hardships with faith and determination.

In Augusta, the governor honored her as an “Outstanding Farm Woman,” and again for spearheading the selling of many “War Bonds” in this county.

She had a deep faith and found strength in the 23rd Psalm and her Bible studies. She was baptized as a young girl in the cold waters of Jimmy Pond in Litchfield and was a member of the Community Free Baptist Church in Sabattus for over 79 years and superintendent of the Sunday school, at one time.

Her survivors are sons, Robert D. Waterman Sr., of South Monmouth and Donald M. Waterman and his wife, Evelyn of Wales; grandchildren, Robert D. Waterman Jr. and his wife, Karen of Lewiston, Peter B. Waterman and his wife, Cathi and their children, Kristin and Mitchell of Sabattus, William J. Waterman and his children, Samuel, Megan, Molly and Emily of Sabattus, Martin D. Waterman and his wife, Mary and their daughter, Madeline of Hyde Park, Vt., Paula W. Rousseau and her husband, Michael and their children, Kyle and Natalie of Lewiston, David E. Waterman and his wife, Carol and their children, Matthew Waterman and Rachel Hanscom of Sabattus, Thomas S. Waterman and his wife, Julie and their children, Michael and Patrick of North Yarmouth, James M. Waterman and his wife, Jennifer and their children, Cora, Charlotte and Sadie of Sabattus and Donna W. Douglass and her husband, Troy of Wales; one surviving brother, F. Emerson Mitchell and his wife, Hilda of Gray; a sister-in-law, Vesta Mitchell of Manchester; and several dear nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by husband, Erland H. Waterman in 1939; and Franz Sigel in 1998; and many brothers and sisters.

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