Anna Marie Fjestad

Anna Marie Fjestad, age 89, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Woodland Lodge in Fergus Falls.

Anna was born on April 3, 1928, in Boone County, Nebraska to Lars Andrew Sr. and Mary (Bishop) Holey. She graduated from Albion Nebraska High School in 1946.

Her family moved to Western Township in Otter Tail County, Minnesota in 1948. She worked as a housekeeper for families in the Carlisle area where she met her future husband, Arthur “Art” Fjestad.

On March 18, 1949, she married Art Fjestad at Hedemarken Lutheran Church in Carlisle, MN.

The couple farmed on Art’s home farm in Carlisle Township, Otter Tail County, where they were very active in the community. In 1974-75 they hosted an AFS student from France, Jean-Marc Mignon, and later visited his home during their travels to Norway and France. Anna and Art received the West Otter Tail County Valley Farmer and Homemaker Award in 1994.

Anna enjoyed singing in her church choir and the Sons of Norway Choir and participating in the Ladies Aid as well as being a church officer. She also served as a 4-H leader and volunteered many years for the West Otter Tail County fair. She was a loyal supporter of the Carlisle Band and attended her children’s and grandchildren’s concerts and sporting events. She also enjoyed growing and canning vegetables, making lefse for holiday meals, and baking her prize-winning apple pies for the county fair.

They retired from farming and moved to Fergus Falls in 2008 and then to Woodland Lodge shortly before Art died in 2014. Anna really cherished her friendships at Woodland Lodge. She loved their Skip-Bo card games, jig-saw puzzles and reading.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Art; her parents; her siblings, Lewis Holey, Verna Stahl, Betty Stahl, Robert Holey, Lars Holey Jr., Irene Holey, Virginia Holey, Donald Holey.

Survivors include her children, Arla (DeLane) Sayler of Indianapolis, IN, Larry Fjestad of Fergus Falls, Verlyn (Kathy) Fjestad of Fergus Falls, Goodwin (Judy) Fjestad of Fergus Falls, Rhonda (Carl) Watkins of Bismarck, ND; her siblings Margaret Stahl, Dorothy Loken, Mary (Vernon) Ingbretson and Nancy Hagen; grandchildren, Andrea (Justin) Hawkins, Amy (Brandon) McClave, Derek (Melissa) Sayler, Timothy (Leah) Fjestad, Melanie (Travis) Johnson, Jonell (Brian) Owen, Shane (fiancée, Beth Rigby) Fjestad, and Lauren and Madelynn Watkins; great-grandchildren, Katelynn and Zachary Hawkins, Rowan and Lachlan McClave, Cayla, Dillon, and Crysta Sayler, Cambria, Bella, Titus and Trentin Fjestad, and Cecily and baby boy Johnson.

Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017 with public prayers at 7:00 p.m. at Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Hedemarken Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Minnesota
Clergy: Reverend Christopher Eldredge
Interment: Hedemarken Cemetery, Carlisle
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls