Helen Olstad

Helen (Smith) Olstad, age 98, of Perham, MN, died Sunday, May 16, 2010, at the Autumn Manor in Perham. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 22, 2010 , beginning at 10:30 am in Elm River Lutheran Church , Galesburg , ND , with Pastors Julie Johnson and Larry Vigen officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, May 21, at Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, MN, from 4 pm – 6 pm. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.


Helen was born May 2, 1912 , to Carl and Tena (Groven) Smith at the Groven farm near Galesburg , ND . She attended school in Galesburg and graduated there. Helen attended Mayville State College and taught school in Broadlawn #5 School in Traill County . She was a lifetime member of Elm River Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and held various offices. On June 2, 1932 , she was united in marriage to Raymond T. Olstad and they lived near Galesburg all their married life. Helen worked as a postal clerk and temporary Post Master in the Galesburg Post Office, was clerk of the school board for several years and held various positions in community organizations. She moved to Trollwood Village in Fargo , ND , in June 1998.



Helen is survived by her son, Vincent (Cheryl) Olstad, Perham, MN; five daughters, Evelyn Brendemuhl, Hope, ND; Irene (Merlin) Larson, Dawson, MN; Marie (Wendell) Port, Horace, ND; Ruth (Willis Loren) Stebleton, Bemidji, MN; and Julie (Dale) Thompson, Bottineau, ND; 14 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, a brother, Victor (Dorothy) Smith, West Fargo, ND; and three sisters, Lillian Satrom, Fargo, ND; Ruth Faubion, San Antonio, TX; and Katherine Satrom, Everett, WA.



Preceding Helen in death are her parents; husband, Raymond; a grandson, a great grandson, two brothers and three sisters.



Her faith in God and her family were the most important things in her life.



Helen’s prayer for her family was, “Put Christ first in your life, then family, and then your profession.” God has promised, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:25-33