Olive Rostad

Olive Rostad, 86, of rural Underwood, went to meet her Lord surrounded by family members on Friday, February 27, 2009 at Alcott Manor in Fergus Falls while under the care of Lakeland Hospice.Mrs. Rostad had recently moved from the family farm into an assisted living apartment at the Alcott Manor. Olive Louise Thorpe was born May 12, 1922 the daughter of John and Thora Marie (Helgeson) Thorpe in Dilworth, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church near Audubon, Minnesota. She attended elementary schools in the Detroit Lakes/Audubon area, graduating from Detroit Lakes High School in 1940. After graduating, Olive set out to work at the Habberstad store across from Barnhard School. There she met the love of her life, Herbert Rostad, a local farmer and truck driver. The Rostads were married May 2, 1942 at the Norwegian Lutheran Church parsonage in Audubon. They began their life together on the family farm near Phelps Mill where they resided throughout their married life. Herbert died in 2001. Mrs. Rostad remained on the farm until recently, when she moved into the Alcott Manor/Broen Home. Olive worked tirelessly with her husband on the dairy farm, but also managed to keep up the home. For several years she worked in the lefse kitchen and Hylden Industries sewing factory. Olive enjoyed a variety of interests and hobbies, including cooking, sewing, gardening, yard work, reading, playing dominos, playing her organ and piano, attending Red Hat meetings, watching Lawrence Welk on television, visiting and entertaining family, many friends, and neighbors. She was involved in the PTA, 4-H, Home Makers and other organizations. A high priority was serving in various positions at Tingvold Lutheran Church where she was a long time member. Olive taught Sunday School, Bible School, played piano and held a variety of offices. She also enjoyed quilting with the women at Tingvold.  For the past 21 years she served as treasurer of the Lutheran Church Women. Through her loving, gentle ways Olive drew many people to her. Each of her friends, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart. She will be greatly missed. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; sisters Mildred Ohman, and Norma Krause; brothers Leonard, Bill, Cliff, Lloyd and Charles Thorpe; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lloyd Ohman, Lawrence Krause, Minnie Thorpe, Eileen Thorpe and Clem Gronfor, Kenneth and Wilford Rostad, and Margaret and Leonard Olson. She is survived by her sister, Dorinne Gronfor, of Anoka, Minn.; her daughter, Cheryl Barry of Underwood; two sons, Mike (Kathy) Rostad, of Kodiak, Alaska and Brad (Karen) Rostad of Jamaica; and son-in-law, Greg Barry, of Underwood; seven grandchildren, Wade Barry, St. Paul; Wendy (Jung Kim) Barry; Kristen (Mike) Chess of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Lesley (Aaron) Chatters, Minneapolis; Kim (Jose) Vejarano, Brad (Kristy) Rostad, Jr., and Kristen (Garfield) Williams of Atlanta; seven great-grandchildren Brendan Ackerman; Nicholas Fiala, Zoey, Heidi and Galen Mears; Ava Chess; and Aria Chatters; two great-great-granddaughters, Morgan and Kylie (born recently;) brother and sisters-in-law, Juneice Rostad, Louise Rostad, Astrid (Lloyd) Heyen, and Esther Thorpe, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of loving friends. In lieu of flowers people can make donations to Lakeland Hospice, Broen Home or Tingvold Church. Visitation:  4-7 pm Thursday at the funeral home with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Service:  2 p.m. Friday at Tingvold Lutheran Church, rural Underwood Clergy:  Reverend Scott Mikkelson and Reverend Brad Rostad Interment:  Tingvold Lutheran Cemetery rural Underwood Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com