Sandra Ostrom

To view a livestream of the service access: https://www.christlutheranminot.org/church-online/

Sandra Ostrom, 81, passed away peacefully in her home on May 7, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born July 10, 1944 in Bottineau, ND, the daughter of Lyle and Esther Ballantyne. She was raised and educated in Souris, ND graduating in 1962. She was active in band and cheerleading, and often would sing and tap dance at events.

She married Richard Ostrom in June 1962. They lived in Utah and Idaho until 1972, when they settled in Minot. Their marriage ended in 1981. While the kids were young, she enjoyed being a stay at home mom, making the kids pancakes or french toast for breakfast every morning before school and being a scout leader. As the kids got older she took a job at First Lutheran Daycare Center. She also worked at Medical Arts Clinic for several years before beginning a long and rewarding career with the North Dakota Court System. She worked for various judges as a court recorder and transcriptionist until she retired in January 2007.

She was active in Christ Lutheran Church, serving as a Stephen Minister for several years. Her faith was very strong. She often gave olive wood palm crosses to friends who were going through hard times. She served on the board for both Women of Today and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

In recent years, she spent her time doting on her puppy, Lucy. She loved attending all the kids’ sporting events, cheering loudly from the sidelines. The kids were so lucky to be able to stay at grandma’s house when they were too sick for school. They were spoiled so much that “faking sick” became a problem! She had a strict rule, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s.”

Sandy’s adoring family includes her children Deb (Dick) Spaulding of Minot; Kris (Scott) Swanson of Boise, ID; Dave (Rachael) Ostrom of Roseville, MN; Bobby (Shannon Odegard) Ostrom of Minot; grandchildren Andrea (Chris) Ray of Minot and Zac Spaulding of Grand Forks, ND; Mesa (Kevin Hemstreet) Swanson of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jack Swanson of Boise, ID; Darah and Tyler Ostrom of Roseville, MN; Meera Ostrom of Minneapolis, MN; Addysn and Blays Ostrom of Minot. She was also blessed with three great-grandsons, Cash, Camden, and Crew Ray.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Dwight; her grandson, Aaron; several nephews, and many special cousins, aunts and uncles.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service access: https://www.christlutheranminot.org/church-online/
Interment: Westhope Cemetery, Westhope, ND.
Visitation: Monday, May 11, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home.