Theodore Olstad

theodore olstad
On Sunday, March 21, 2004, Theodore (Ted) Olstad died peacefully at the MeritCare Hospital Palliative Care Unit in Fargo. God has opened His loving arms and called him home. Theodore (Ted) Dennison Olstad was born December 15, 1938, one of Dr. Hills babies, in Cedar Township, Adams County, North Dakota, to Myrtle (Reyerson) and Eddie Olstad. Ted?s middle name is the maiden name of his paternal grandmother. Ted?s elementary education was in a one room, rural Adams County school. He graduated from Hettinger High School, attended Concordia College, Moorhead, BJC in Bismarck, and graduated in 1962 from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, with a degree in accounting. Ted was united in marriage to Mary Helen Wald in Bismarck on August 12, 1961. Four sons were born of this marriage. Mary Helen died of cancer on August 31, 1997. They had been married for 36 years. Ted was also preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Myrtle Olstad, and his nephew, Doug Olstad. He married Janet (Jan) Deilke on April 9, 1999, at Holy Spirit Church, Fargo. They were married for five years. Ted was employed as an Internal Revenue Agent for 32 years, stationed in Dickinson, Bismarck, and Fargo, retiring in 1994. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1962 to 1968. After retirement, he worked part time at NDSU and Marshall Fields in Fargo. He was a member of Holy Spirit Church in Fargo, the American Legion and the Eagles. Ted is survived by his wife, Jan; his four sons, John (Barb), Spokane, WA, Daniel (Linda), Savage, MN, Thomas (Heather), Burnsville, MN, and Terrence, New Hope, MN; and his three grandchildren, Eric, Jacob, and Sydney Olstad. He is also survived by his brother Maurice (Ann) Olstad, Monticello, MN. Additional survivors include his stepchildren, Susan (Richard) Thoreson, Fargo, Ann (John) Fee, Wheeling, IL, Lisa (Jeffrey) Cook, Barnesville, MN, and Karl ?Skip? Deilke, Fargo; and his stepgrandchildren, Ryan, David, Michael and Kelly Thoreson, Morganne, Tanner and MacKenzie Cook and Alex Fee. Ted loved to golf. He was treasurer of the Monday night Federal League for many years. He also played on the Red River Valley Senior Golf Tour. He and Jan took their golf clubs with them whenever they traveled. He was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and playing bridge. Ted was very patriotic and a faithful viewer of the History channel on TV. He always said, ?Somebody has to remember the sacrifices that were made by our soldiers?. Ted?s father, Eddie Olstad, served in the U.S. Army during World War I and was stationed in Europe. Ted enjoyed cooking and was known for his ?Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie?. Most of all, Ted loved his family and the farm in Adams County. He always referred to his birthplace as ?God?s Country?. He enjoyed the annual pheasant hunting outing on the farm with his four boys and the scenic beauty of the West River countryside. Visitation will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday in Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Boulger Funeral Home, with a prayer service to follow. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Holy Spirit Church, Fargo. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Hettinger Cemetery, Hettinger, ND. Memorials are preferred to the University of North Dakota Alumni Association or MeritCare Palliative Care Unit. Arrangements by Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com

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