Olive Mary Fonstad (nee Torgunrud) was born January 6, 1937 in Maxim, Saskatchewan the fifth child of Edwin and years of age, the family (which grew to include 9 children) moved to Midale, Saskatchewan. She attended school in Midale and LCBI in Outlook, Saskatchewan.
Following graduation, she took Nurses’ Training in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and then went on to work as a registered nurse at Midale Hospital and at St. Joseph’s in Estevan, Saskatchewan. After that, she went back to LCBI as School Nurse and Assistant Dean of Girls. While there, she renewed her acquaintance with Russel Fonstad. For two summers she worked at Moose Jaw Union Hospital and then she and Russel were married on August 11, 1962. They have since lived in Outlook, raising their five children in the house they moved into after their wedding. Olive loved reading, baking, gardening, sewing, quilting (especially for Lutheran World Relief) and relationships with her church family, extended
family, and immediate family. She lived a life punctuated by faithful service. Olive moved into long term care in Outlook in September of 2017 where she received excellent and loving care until she passed, with her family by her side, in the early hours of Monday, June 19, 2023.
Left to mourn are her husband, Russel Fonstad; children Marlis (Peter) Knutson and their children Clinton (Heather) Knutson, great grandchildren Ivan, Eli, Isabelle, and Bridget, and Amanda Knutson; Joanne (Eric) Sorestad and their children Annyea (Bryan) Balaton, great-grandchildren Annabelle, Jacob, Eva and Sophie, Rebecca Dyck and great grandson Leif, Boden (Caroline) Sorestad, great
granddaughters Elaine, Olivia and Natalie and Haley (Cole) Albrecht; Laurine (Chris) Akre and their children Syhra Ellis, great grandchildren Jude, Murphy, Sawyer and Chuck, Curtis (Tarah) Akre and Emma Akre; Gaylene (Peter) Haugen and their children Hanna (Latham Hamlin) Haugen, Sarah
Haugen, Paul Haugen and Leah Haugen; and Joel (David Spence) Fonstad. Olive’s siblings and in-laws Audrey (Ed) Hedlin, Doreen Torgunrud, Carrie Torgunrud, Elwood (Irma) Torgunrud, Connie (Obert) Friggstad, Rick and Sharon Johnson, Maryann (Earl) Nostbakken; special Hong Kong grandchildren Alex, Leon and Kristy Fung, Ching Lau, and Kelly Chan; numerous nieces, nephews their families and
other family and friends.
Olive was predeceased by her parents Edwin and Anna Torgunrud; parents in-law, Olaf and Mary Fonstad; siblings and in-laws Odelite (Elwin) Hoium, Eugene (Corinne) Torgunrud, Duane Torgunrud, Ted Torgunrud, Lorne Torgunrud (passed in infancy) and Carolyn Johnson. Fonstad siblings and in-laws
Elna (Richard) Hettrick, Edgar Fonstad and Betty Fonstad, Leila (Ken) Peterman, David Fonstad, Melvia Fonstad, and Frances Fonstad, three nephews Eric Friggstad, Stephen Torgunrud and Curtis Hettrick, one niece, Lois Hinz, three great nephews, Joel Hettrick, Kolbjorn Friggstad, and Dag Hovdestad.
A time of lunch and sharing will take place in the church hall following the interment.
Interment - Outlook Cemetery
Memorial donations may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute.