Mary Oster, 74, 714 10th St. NE, Minot, died Wednesday, July 19, 2006, in a Minot hospital

Mary Olson was born October 29, 1931, in Fairfield, Idaho, to Albert and Nora (Wold) Olson. At an early age, she moved with her family to Fairfield, Idaho and later to Sydney, MT. Following the death of her father in 1936, her mother worked as a bookkeeper to support their family of three. They moved to Minot in 1942. Nora was employed at P.W. Miller and Minot Lumber and hired Inez Hanson and Ruth Johnson to care for her children while she was working.

Mary graduated from Minot High School in 1950. Following graduation, she was employed by Woolworth's as a register clerk and also as a nurses' aide at Anderson Nursing Home, both of Minot.

Mary was united in marriage to Clifford Oster on February 2, 1957, at First Lutheran Church in Minot, ND. They moved with the railroad until settling in Drake, ND, in 1958, where she assisted Clifford with a farming operation for eight years.

They returned to Minot in 1966, where Clifford took a job in the maintenance department at the Trinity Lutheran Home and later at St. Joseph's Hospital. Mary cared for their home.

Mary was a former member of First Lutheran Church of Minot. She was a current member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Minot, where she stayed active in the women's sewing circle. Mary volunteered numerous hours at Trinity Hospital. She enjoyed embroidery, sewing, watching 'old westerns' on television and playing cards, which included solitaire and rummy. Mary kept busy with her love of reading and spending time with her only grandchild, Dana. She will be deeply missed by all who shared in her life.

Loving family includes: Daughters: Elaine Oster, Minot, Susan Oster, Minot, & Lisa (Bob) Smesrud, Minot; Grandchild: Dana Smesrud, Minot; Sister: Carol (Jack) Smithson, Beaverton, OR; Sisters-in-Law: Eleanor (Lawrence) Neuhalfen, Minot, Delores (Roger) Odell, Minot, & Janice Krenz, Eugene, OR, Sandy and Cassie Oster, both of Minot; Brothers-in-Law: Ernest (Arlene) Oster, Velva, ND, Marvin (Angie) Oster, Carrington, ND, Eugene Oster, Drake, ND, Jerry (Carol) Oster, Minot, & Orville (Sheila) Oster, Carrington, ND; & Son-in-Law: Kenny Kalenze, Minot; And numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and her beloved cat, Patches.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church of Minot.
Visitation: Monday, July 24, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.