Raymond Ostreim

Raymond Stanley Ostreim
70 years old
From Fargo, ND
Came to rest on November 24th, 2023.
In Fargo, ND
Surrounded by his family.

Ray was born September 28th, 1953, in Rolette, ND to Kenneth and Ruth (Tastad) Ostreim. He married Cynthia (Halvorson) Ostreim on January 31st, 1975.
Ray grew up, lived, and worked in Rolette until he retired. He and Cindy then moved to Detroit Lakes, MN in 2019 and then to Fargo, ND in 2022.
Ray was a farmer most of his life until he naturally evolved to a job with crop adjusting. Leaving the farming behind he found a job he truly loved. Crop adjusting allowed him to travel, meet new people and still be connected to the farming piece that he grew up doing. Other odd jobs he had was bar tending and anything to do with cars.
A few years before he married Cindy, he bought a car. A 1970, Dodge Challenger 340 6 pak T/A. Man, and those who knew him, know that the rest is history. Ray loved that car. It currently sits in a shop in Oregon where it is getting restored. He will not be able to enjoy the finished product, but his wife and kids will be sure to see his dream come true. Some of his ashes will be a part of that car one way or another! He will go for a ride every time it is taken out.
Ray also was an enthusiastic hunter. Deer hunting was his favorite. Every November you would see him in bright orange ready to go. He so loved that time of year. Known as One Feather to his fellow hunters. One Feather had a few, just a few, amazing, let’s call them, skills when it came to deer hunting. He had this ability to see bucks crawling along weedy fence lines, something not everyone naturally sees. He had a keen sense to know what direction a deer would go and was able to bounce a bullet off the highway and hit a buck center chest. Skills, luck, if you knew Ray, he’d say skill. Those from the Broke8, and the only remaining original member of the Broke8, Mr. Kay Heinz, would know. He taught all the new up and coming hunters everything they needed to know about hunting. How to know where to go to find the deer, how to follow along with your gun to get that perfect shot, how to field dress, how to hang and skin a deer. He taught the old fashion way of skinning and a new and improved way using a tennis ball, rope, and a pickup. He was always coming up with new and improved ways to get things done faster so we could get back to the hunt.
He would take his kids out every summer for the annual gopher hunt. The friends he had in Rolette he would call up and ask to take his family out to take care of their unwanted rodents and they would all be so kind as to let him and his kids raise havoc in their pastures for an afternoon. Ray would keep score and let his kids shoot…most of the time.
Then, Halloween. Oh, that man loved Halloween. The costumes he would come up with. We’ll keep this PG. Cindy would make any wild and crazy costume he came up with and he would wear them out and show them off to everyone. Whether they wanted to see it or not! One year, he dressed up his mom, entered her into a costume contest and she won! That was a happy day for Ray.
Ray was a jack of all trades and a master of a lot. He taught his kids how to ride bike, drive all the farm equipment, cars, and trucks, how to farm, tend to the animals, how to shoot and fish. He loved to share his knowledge and help everyone do the very best that they could. He did hold a few things close to his chest, his caramel and donut recipe. He may be famously known for his caramels and donuts.
Ray only had 3 things he didn’t like in life. Liars, cheaters, and thieves. With these at his core, he lived a life with a heart larger than life. He loved all that crossed his path. Those that were lucky to have crossed his path will surely share the same and have felt they had just met quite an amazing, kind, caring and loving man.
To his children, he was THE BEST father. They feel so lucky and proud to have had HIM as a dad. His wife of life, casino partner, traveling side kick across the country, he was a good husband. The love that was shared between the 2 of them for almost 49 years felt like it stood the test of time. Lucky to have each other, and in the end, she was his biggest fan of keeping him as healthy as his body would allow.
Rest easy Papa Jo. You were loved by many and forgotten by none. We love you!

Wife, Cindy (Halvorson) Ostreim, Daughters, Christina Ostreim (Fargo), Leslie Ostreim (Bottineau), Wayne and Simone (Ostreim) Downer (Amenia, ND) and Son Kendell Ostreim (Fargo).
Niece, Carmen Thomas (Billings, MT) and great-nephew, Noah Thomas (Billings, MT).
4 grand kitties and 2 grand puppies
Uncle and Aunt, Keith and Kathy (Fish) Toney of Tennessee
Loving brother and sisters in law, great-nieces, cousins, and all those that he took under his wing. His wife and kids love you all as much as he did!
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Ruth (Tastad) Ostreim, sisters Karen Ostreim, Barabara (Ostreim) Thomas and brother Carl Ostreim. Nephew, Stuart Thomas. His in-laws Orris (Buddy) and Leslie (Fish) Halvorson, sister-in-law Debra (Halvorson) Schneible and brother-in-law Brian Johnson.

Service is yet to be determined.