July 22, 2014

Oscar Johnsrud

Oscar Johnsrud

Oscar Calvin Johnsrud, 86, formerly of Watford City, N.D., passed away on Friday, July 18, 2014 after a six month battle with cancer.  He died at Rosewood on Broadway under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and in the presence of family.
Oscar was born on Dec. 24, 1927, to Hilmar and Sofie (Skaarhagen) Johnsrud in their ranch home eight miles west of Keene, N.D.  He was the eleventh of 12 children. He attended the Dodge School near Keene and joined the US Army in February of 1951.  After receiving his basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash., he spent a year at Ft. Jackson, S.C., and Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Ind.  He also served six months at Munich, Germany during the Korean Conflict with a rank of Private First Class.  He was discharged in February, 1953.  During the winter of 1954 - 1955, he attended Hanson Auto Mechanics Trade School in Fargo, N.D.  
On June 9, 1957 he was united in marriage to Celia Ardella Martin at Rock Lake, N.D.  Oscar was a self-employed contract pumper in the oilfields of western North Dakota for 40 years prior to his retirement in 1995.  He had resided in Watford City until recently moving into Rosewood on Broadway Nursing Home in Fargo.
Oscar was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Watford City including serving on the church council.  He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He served on the drill team, as well.  He was on the Board of the Independent Farmer’s Oil Company of Keene, N.D., for many years, a member of the 50 Years in the Saddle Club and an active member of the Heritage Park Board for 13 years.  He enjoyed working in their yard, gardening and visiting.  He loved ice cream and anything that Celia cooked or baked for him.   
He is survived by his wife Celia of Fargo, N.D., son Bryan (Mary Lou) of Springfield, Ill., daughter Susan (Kevin) Mjelstad of Fargo, N.D., grandsons Grant, Clark and Brock Mjelstad of Fargo, N.D., step-granddaughter Marcy (Jason) Edwards of Auburn, Ill.,  He is also survived by sisters Esther Heller of Fargo, N.D., Ella Hoadley of Mahtowa, Minn., Mavis Connell, Sutherlin, Ore., and brother Neil of Lake Stevens, Wash., as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.  Preceding him in death are his parents, four brothers and three sisters.  
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to First Lutheran Church in Watford City, N.D., the Heritage Park in Watford City, N.D., Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo, N.D., Hospice of the Red River Valley, or Rosewood on Broadway. The family would like to thank the staff at Rosewood as well as the staff from Hospice for their loving care of Oscar. He often commented about the wonderful care that he received.  He was happy to know that his wife is getting that same wonderful care at Rosewood.  
Visitation will be Wednesday, July 23, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m., at West Funeral Home in West Fargo.
The funeral will be held Saturday, July 26, at 11:00 a.m., at First Lutheran Church in Watford City, N.D., with visitation an hour before the service.
 The burial will be at the Schafer Cemetery, Watford City, N.D.
 

WATFORD CITY WEATHER