Orvin "Orvy" M. Kostad , 76, of Laurel, MT (formerly of Minot) passed away at home on 2/16/2015 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and his loving partner Phyllis Greer.

Orvin was born July 11, 1938, on the family farm north of Lignite ND. He was the son of late Hans and Clara (Fordahl) Kostad.

Orvin served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959, spending 14 months in Korea with the 7th Division 127th Signal Corp and was honorably discharged on November 4, 1959 as a Corporal.

He married Lomie Hill on December 18, 1959. Orvin and Lomie were married for 34 years and had two children, Valerie and Scott. Lomie passed away in 1995.

Orvin worked for Northwest Refining Company and later for Westland Oil Company in Lignite, in addition to farming. He retired from Portal Pipeline in Minot, ND in 1995, after 32 years of service. During his employment with Portal Pipeline, he was sent to Yemen for eight months to oversee the startup of a new pipeline project.

Orvin became a "self taught" accordion player after listening to his uncles play the Old Tyme Norwegian tunes of their youth. Playing old time and classic country music for listening and dancing was a favorite pastime.

Orvin was playing accordion for the Tioga Sons of Norway when he met Phyllis. Orvin and Phyllis traveled many miles with this group to perform dances, songs and music in nursing homes and senior centers in Stanley, Palermo, Powers Lake, Noonan, Crosby, Wildrose, Ray, Grenora, Williston, Tioga, Watford City, Newtown, Minot and Dickinson. Orvin was also one of the first members of the Norsk Hostfest Accordion Club.

He was a regular Thursday evening accordion player with the Gilbertson Family Jam Session at the Tioga Long Term Care facility. This musical group was honored by the ND Long Term Care Association as a Volunteer Group of the Year.

Exploring western North Dakota and eastern Montana (usually on gravel roads) was another favorite pastime. Orvy loved picturesque scenes of nature, cattle on the hillsides, wildlife and all of God's creation. His heart was most at home on the Coyote Ranch in Lignite, ND, where he spent many hours working side by side with his son, Scott, and his brother, Bruce.

Orvin and Phyllis spent several winters in Mesa, AZ enjoying sunshine and daily jam sessions. In 2007, they moved to Minot where they lived for five years. They had recently relocated to Laurel, MT in 2012.

Survivors are partner Phyllis Greer, his daughter Valerie (John) Schultz of Lakeville, MN, his son Scott (Kristi) Kostad of Lignite, ND and grandchildren Shelly Kostad of Fargo, ND and Michael Schultz of Lakeville MN, brothers Norman (Eleanor) Kostad of Watford City, ND, Bruce Kostad of Houston, TX, sisters Hilda (Alden) Johnson of Osakis, MN and Bertha Darras of Minot, ND and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lomie, granddaughter Miranda Kostad, his parents and his brother Hans W. (Billy) Kostad.

At Orvin's request, cremation has taken place and interment will be at Rosehill Cemetery in Minot, ND, following a Memorial Service at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot, ND on Friday, May 1st, 2015 at 1:00PM.

Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.