Martha Olmstead

Published November 30, 2020 at 4:14 PM

Martha “Marty” Olmstead, age 75 of Jamestown, ND and formerly of Forest River, ND passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020 at the Ava Maria Village of Jamestown, ND from complications of Covid-19.

Marty was born June 7, 1945 in Drake, ND the daughter of the late Conrad and Regina (Miller) Degenstein. She grew up and attended school in Anamoose, ND. Marty married Henry Olmstead on January 14, 1967 in St. Thomas, ND. The couple lived in Grafton until 1969 when they moved to Forest River where they built their home and raised their five children.

Marty was employed as a cook for over 50 years at cafés, restaurants, Unity Medical Center for 10 years and for two sorority houses at UND until retiring in 2010. She was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2015 and in 2017 she moved to the Ava Maria Village in Jamestown, ND.

Marty was a member of the former St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ardoch and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Minto. She attended Mass and Rosary services in the Good Shepherd Chapel at Ava Maria Village and watched on television. She loved to organize, craft, crochet and make things for her loved ones. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and her grand pets. She was a very loving and supportive mother and had a great sense of humor.

Marty is survived by her children: Robert (Doris) Degenstein, Mankato, MN; Brian (Marlene) Olmstead, Inkster, ND; Sheila (Larry) Fisher, Grafton, ND; Marilyn (Randy) Schroder, Minto, ND; Denise (Rich) Geringer, Jamestown, ND; three grandchildren: David, Eric and Casey, one great grandchild: Taylor, her siblings: Agnes (John) Schnellbach, Grafton, ND; Jim Degenstein, Tacoma, WA; Eileen (Doug) Demers, Grafton, ND and Larry Degenstein, Dalton, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother John, sister, Lorraine Schnellbach and nephews: David Olmstead and Shawn Degenstein.

There will be a walk through visitation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Minto, ND from 1-2 PM on Friday, December 4th. There will be a private funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Minto with burial at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Ardoch, ND. Face masks and social distancing will be followed. The family would like to thank all the staff at Ava Maria Village for the wonderful and thoughtful care of Marty.

An online guest book is available at: www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com

The Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton is in charge of the arrangements.