Oleen I. E. Lerfald

Oleen I. E. Lerfald, 91, of Fargo, ND formerly of Mayville, ND died Saturday, December 22, 2012 at Bethany Retirement Home in Fargo. Oleen Knutson was born March 22, 1921 in Hatton ND, the daughter and second child of Elmer and Ragna (Wattenford) Knutson. She was baptized at St John’s Lutheran Church of Hatton, and attended and graduated from Hatton High School. She married Alvin Lerfald Sept. 7, 1940. They settled on the family farm 8 miles east of Hatton where they lived, farmed, and raised four boys, Allen, Duane, Luther, and Darrell (Bucky). They lived on the family farm for 55 years, and then moved to their new home in Portland in 1995. Oleen and Alvin spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona after retirement in 1980. Oleen moved to the Luther Memorial Home Apartments in Mayville in 2004, and then moved to Fargo in 2008 to live closer to Darrell and Roberta, and grandchildren. Oleen was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Hatton, and a member of WELCA, Ladies Aid, Circle, Bible Study, and other functions of the church for close to 60 years. She is survived by three sons, Allan (Ruby) Lerfald of Casa Grande, AZ, Luther (Jane) Lerfald of rural Hatton and Darrell (Roberta) Lerfald, of Fargo; 8 grandchildren, Michael (Alaina) Lerfald of Rogers, MN, Jennifer (Jeff) Kosek of Andover, MN, Laura (Doug) Johnson of Elk River, MN, Sara Lerfald of Grand Forks, ND, Ericka (Lon) Mlnarik of Phoenix, AZ, Kristin Lerfald of Fargo, Tyson (Kelsey) Lerfald of Fargo, and Nils Lerfald of Fargo; 9 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alvin in 2000; son, Duane Lerfald; sisters, Lucille Johnson and Delores Smestad. Oleen loved her church, family, and everyone around her. She always remembered everyone in her life with cards, a letter, or a call for any event. She spent time reading and studying the bible, and had great consideration for anyone around her. She spent her whole life in clear mind and loved to sit and reminisce and talk about things she did when she was a youngster and staying with her aunt in Moorhead as a child and many other things. She would speak of little pranks she would do as a young child and then giggle. Kindness was something she was born with, and it was always a natural thing for her. She never spoke badly of anyone at anytime. She was loved dearly by her family, and especially the grandkids who all just called her Grandma. Visitation: 5-7PM with a prayer service at 7:00PM on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at Baker Funeral Home in Mayville and one hour prior to the funeral service, at the church. Funeral Service: 10:30AM on Thursday, December, 27, 2012, at Bethany Lutheran Church rural Hatton. Burial: Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Hatton.