Oscar H. Kostad

Oscar Kostad, 94, Fargo, ND, passed away April 5, 2016, at Essentia Health, Fargo. Oscar was born on the home farm, rural Flaxton, ND, September 25, 1921, the son of Frederick and Guri (Haugen) Kostad. He was baptized and confirmed in First Lutheran Church, Lignite, ND, and attended rural school in Dale Township.

Oscar enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in January of 1940 and was stationed in Sidney, MT. He was drafted into the US Army in 1943, and assigned to the 335th Signal Company where he proudly served with the Army Air Force in England and France from March 1944 to July 1945. He received an honorable discharge at Lowry Field, Denver, CO, in December 1945. Upon returning home, Oscar began his career as a Combinationman with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.

Oscar was united in marriage to Esther V. Fjellanger on August 17, 1947, in Bethel Lutheran Church, Rugby, ND. They moved to Kenmare, ND, in 1955, where they raised four children. After 37 ½ years, Oscar retired from NW Bell and they moved to Fargo in 1992.

While in Kenmare he was a very active member of the community, holding various offices and achieving life memberships in many organizations such as: Nazareth Lutheran Church, Association of Commerce, Kenmare Lions Club, Kenmare Fire Department, ND Fireman's Association, and American Legion Post 64, Kenmare. He was also a member of 40 & 8 and helped organize Kenmare's WWII Last Man's Club. Oscar took great pride in making sure the flags around the square were flying during every patriotic holiday. As a member of the Kenmare Country Club, he was proud to be part of the group to help build the new clubhouse and see the transition of the greens from sand to grass. As a member of the Kenmare Volunteer Ambulance Squad, he was certified EMT/training officer/American Red Cross 1st Aid instructor/American Heart Association CPR instructor and trained many others in CPR. Additionally, he was a Life Member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Oscar's many interests included rosemaling, golfing, flying with local pilots and with his son-in-law in a hot air balloon. In his retirement years, he spent many hours honing his skills at the pool table, keeping up with technology and mastering any puzzle put before him. Most of the world's problems were discussed with friends over a cup of coffee and solved before breakfast ended. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren always put a smile on his face.

Oscar is survived by his four children, Kenneth Kostad and his wife, Fran, Minot, ND, Kerwin Kostad, Glendive, MT, Kathleen Mercil and her husband, Wayne, Surprise, AZ, and Kristie Nett and her husband, Dal, Powell, OH; ten grandchildren, Jennifer Beswick, Fernie BC, Canada, Lynn Miller, Fargo, Daniel Kostad, East Grand Forks, MN, Heidi Anderson, Grand Forks, ND, Adam Kostad, Hoboken, NJ, Andrew Mercil, Portland, OR, Brad Mercil, Aurora, CO, Laura Bryson, Argusville, ND, Ryan Nett, Austin, TX, and Erin Meyer, New Berlin, WI; eleven great-grandchildren, Alex and Jane Beswick, Austin, Paige and Eleni Anderson, Cameron Miller, Aiden and Taylor Mercil, Riley Bryson, and William and Anna Meyer; one sister, Geneva Nelson, Sun City, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.

Oscar was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Esther; parents, Frederick and Guri Kostad; four brothers, Lewis, Floyd, Raymond, and Art Kostad; three sisters, Clara Christianson, Marie Kallberg, and Wilma Burner.

The Memorial Service for Oscar will be Friday, April 8, 2016, at 11 AM, in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fargo. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND, at a later date.