Eskild "Oscar" Ostern

Eskild “Oscar” Ostern, 85, Fargo, ND, died January 10, 2025, in St. Catherine North – SMP Health, Fargo with his family by his side. 

Dianna and Oscar's Celebration of Life will be Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11am in Faith United Methodist Church, Fargo. Family and friends will gather one hour prior at the church. Following the service, please join the family for a time of lunch and fellowship. Interment will be in the Spring at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo. 

Eskild Hans Ostern was born June 30, 1939, in Delamere, ND, the youngest of seven children to John and Olda (Farup) Ostern. He was raised near Great Bend, ND, on the family farm, and attended school in Wahpeton, graduating in 1957. Eskild furthered his education by attending Interstate Business College. Following his schooling, Eskild worked as an orderly at the VA in Fargo. While working at the VA, Eskild got his nickname “Oscar” from a veteran who couldn’t pronounce Eskild. Eskild welcomed the nickname and from then on, was known by all as “Oscar.” 

On August 27, 1961, Oscar was united in marriage to Dianna Bettenhausen in Wishek, ND. They welcomed a son, Mark in 1962 and daughter, Dawn in 1965 and raised their family in north Fargo. Oscar and Dianna shared many wonderful years together. Oscar worked as the parts manager for General Equipment and Supplies for many years. Following his retirement, Oscar worked for Fargo North High as a part-time custodian. 

 Oscar and Dianna loved spending time with family, especially when they became grandparents. They were always present for their grandchildren and spent many cold hours in hockey arenas, attending music events, along with football and baseball games and in recent years, Roller Derby. They took immense pride in being the best “taxi” service for their grandchildren, and always made sure a snack was prepared upon pick up or drop off. They loved hosting the Ostern family at the family farm in Great Bend during Thanksgiving, where the tractor hayride was always a highlight. Oscar spent many hours riding, fixing and pull starting his Allis Chalmers tractors and always found solace in returning to the family farm for a day of mowing.

If they were not traveling together, Oscar and Dianna spent their summer months on Long Lake and later years Rose Lake. They made many lake friends throughout the years and loved the slow pontoon rides; entertaining family where countless memories were made.

Oscar and Dianna were active long time members of Edgewood United Methodist Church. 

Oscar was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. With open arms and a warm embrace, Oscar welcomed his wife Dianna into Heaven. Dianna passed away on January 13, 2025. 

They are survived by their children, son, Mark and his wife Connie Ostern, daughter, Dawn and her husband Doug Long; their amazing grandchildren, Matthew Long, Andrew Long and his wife Lori Boucher, Jessi and her husband Michael Motschenbacher, Maddie and her husband Seth Hanson, and Mason Ostern; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Oscar is preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Arlene, twins, Harriet and Harris, Audrey, Lenore, and Donna (in infancy) 

 Memorials can be directed to Faith United Methodist Church at: 909 19th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102 or SMP Health - St. Catherine North at: 1351 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102

To view Oscar and Dianna's Celebration of Life, please follow the church link at https://fargofaithumc.org/livestream/ and click on YouTube Livestream.