Official Obituary of
Mavis M. Ohnstad
March 27, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015 (age 90) 90 Years Old
Mavis Ohnstad Obituary
Mavis M. Ohnstad, age 90, of Florence, SD, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at a care center in Watertown, SD.
She was the widow of Alvin Rossow and Lester Ohnstad.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown.
Pastor Rae Speiser will officiate.
Music will be provided by Dorothy Anderson as organist with Kari Anderson as soloist.
The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers will be Bradley Rossow, Andy Rossow, John Toupal, Dan Bateman, Mark Holland and Ed Morrison.
Mavis was born on March 27, 1925, in South Bend, IN, to James and Myra (Arff) Blake.
She attended country school in Summit, SD, and graduated from Milbank High School in 1943.
She worked at First National Bank in Milbank, SD, from 1943 to 1946, and First Citizens Bank in Watertown, from 1946 to 1947.
On July 8, 1947, Mavis married Alvin "Bud" Rossow in Florence, SD.
They made their home on a farm in rural Florence.
Alvin passed away on July 6, 1973.
On October 14, 1978, Mavis married Lester Ohnstad in Florence, SD.
They made their home in Florence.
Lester passed away on December 27, 2010.
Mavis continued to make her home at Country View Assisted Living in Florence.
She was a member of the Florence United Methodist Church, where she held many offices.
Mavis was also a member of the Florence Senior Citizens Association, and the Florence Whirlways.
She was the first historian for South Dakota Square and Folk Dance Federation.
She also served as clerk of the Dexter School #58 and Dexter Township Treasurer.
Mavis enjoyed sewing, quilting, canning and spending time with family, especially with her grandchildren.
Mavis is survived by one son, Charles (Marcy) Rossow, of Florence, SD; one daughter, Janet (Eldon Willuweit) Gruenig, of Reliance, SD; one stepdaughter, Janet (Deverne) Rickard of Summit, SD; one stepdaughter-in-law, Diane Ohnstad, of Kansas City, MO; one sister, Norma Jean Hjellming, of Spring Lake Park, MN; two half-sisters: Barbara (Jack) Prue of Garden Grove, CA, and Margaret "Peggy" Vierra of Red Bluff, CA; four grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 18 step-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Alvin and Lester; one grandson, Brady Rossow; one brother, Herb; and one infant sister, Helen.
When: June 26, 2015 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: June 27, 2015 11:00am
Location: First United Methodist Church
Address: 4 2nd Ave SE Watertown, SD 57201
She was the widow of Alvin Rossow and Lester Ohnstad.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown.
Pastor Rae Speiser will officiate.
Music will be provided by Dorothy Anderson as organist with Kari Anderson as soloist.
The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers will be Bradley Rossow, Andy Rossow, John Toupal, Dan Bateman, Mark Holland and Ed Morrison.
Mavis was born on March 27, 1925, in South Bend, IN, to James and Myra (Arff) Blake.
She attended country school in Summit, SD, and graduated from Milbank High School in 1943.
She worked at First National Bank in Milbank, SD, from 1943 to 1946, and First Citizens Bank in Watertown, from 1946 to 1947.
On July 8, 1947, Mavis married Alvin "Bud" Rossow in Florence, SD.
They made their home on a farm in rural Florence.
Alvin passed away on July 6, 1973.
On October 14, 1978, Mavis married Lester Ohnstad in Florence, SD.
They made their home in Florence.
Lester passed away on December 27, 2010.
Mavis continued to make her home at Country View Assisted Living in Florence.
She was a member of the Florence United Methodist Church, where she held many offices.
Mavis was also a member of the Florence Senior Citizens Association, and the Florence Whirlways.
She was the first historian for South Dakota Square and Folk Dance Federation.
She also served as clerk of the Dexter School #58 and Dexter Township Treasurer.
Mavis enjoyed sewing, quilting, canning and spending time with family, especially with her grandchildren.
Mavis is survived by one son, Charles (Marcy) Rossow, of Florence, SD; one daughter, Janet (Eldon Willuweit) Gruenig, of Reliance, SD; one stepdaughter, Janet (Deverne) Rickard of Summit, SD; one stepdaughter-in-law, Diane Ohnstad, of Kansas City, MO; one sister, Norma Jean Hjellming, of Spring Lake Park, MN; two half-sisters: Barbara (Jack) Prue of Garden Grove, CA, and Margaret "Peggy" Vierra of Red Bluff, CA; four grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 18 step-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Alvin and Lester; one grandson, Brady Rossow; one brother, Herb; and one infant sister, Helen.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: June 26, 2015 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: June 27, 2015 11:00am
Location: First United Methodist Church
Address: 4 2nd Ave SE Watertown, SD 57201
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In Loving Memory Of
Mavis Ohnstad
March 27, 1925-June 24, 2015
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