Helen M. Ostrem

Helen was born to Otto and Emma (Olson) Wangsness on May 9, 1916, in Fargo. She attended McKinley, Lincoln, Horace Mann and Roosevelt Schools and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1934. Helen married Oscar E. "Ockie" Ostrem on August 25, 1939, and together they raised four children.

Helen worked for the Pierce Printing Company, both before her marriage and after her children were grown. In 1977, Helen and Ockie moved to Lake Ida near Cormorant Village. They spent nineteen years enjoying the lake country. All of Helen's grandchildren told her at her 100th birthday celebration that time with Grandma and Grandpa at the lake was the best time of their lives. In 1996, Helen and Ockie moved to Moorhead.

Helen enjoyed traveling with her husband, and together she and Ockie visited all fifty states, Alaska being their 50th to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. They also traveled to Norway and Sweden to visit their parents' places of birth. For many years, she and her sisters took annual road trips together. Helen enjoyed cooking for her family, who still recall her delicious donuts and waffles. She spent time reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and bingo, and being with her family. She loved the beauty and fascination of nature, especially butterflies and birds. She had an extreme dislike of mice.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oscar E. Ostrem in 2007; her brother, Oscar Wangsness; her sisters, Agnes Nokken, Lill Platt, Clara Melchior, and Ruth Hundeby; and her son-in-law, Ron Griffith.

She is survived by her children, Marilyn (Ken) Hanson, Pelican Lake, MN, Jane Griffith, Maple Grove, MN, Laurie (Don) Kline, Shorewood, MN, and Mark (Patricia) Ostrem, Milton, MA; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Myrtle Gary and Emma Gravelin.

Visitation will begin at 1 PM, followed by her funeral at 2 PM, Monday, August 1, 2016, in Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, Fargo. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo.

Memorials are preferred to Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.

Arrangements by Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead.