On March 7, 2024, with open arms, God welcomed home His good and faithful servant, Barbara Jo Oistad, 85, Fertile, MN. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Barbara (Babs) was born October 8, 1938, in Crookston, MN to Benjamin and Josephine (Christianson) Hamre.
She grew up on a farm in Beltrami, MN and was the 8th of 9 children. She attended White Dove school in Beltrami until grade six. After her Dad’s early passing, her mom moved to Fertile with her and her younger brother. She graduated from Fertile High School in 1956. That summer she met the love of her life, Rodney Oistad, where they carried on a long-distance relationship while he was drafted in the US Army, and she pursued her nursing education. She obtained an LPN degree from NSCS in Wapheton, ND. She then worked as a nurse in Valley City while attending Mercy Hospital training. She received extra training in Pierre, SD and completed an advanced course in pediatrics and geriatrics in 1958.
They were married on June 12, 1959, at Concordia Lutheran Church after Rod returned from the service. They moved to Crookston, MN where they started a family. They moved to White Bear Lake for a short time while Rod served as a probation officer.
In the mid 1960’s, Barbara and Rodney moved back to Fertile. They built a house along the Sandhill River and Babs managed the household and together they raised five children. In 1978, she pursued her nursing career at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN for 30+ years. She took a genuine interest in all the people that she took care of, worked with or met, and developed many lifelong friendships. She retired in 2008 and continued to help out for seven more years after she retired.
Athletics was a big part of the Oistad family and there was no bigger fan than Babs. She attended numerous sporting events of her children and grandchildren. She loved watching high school, college, and Timberwolves basketball.
Her grandkids were her pride and joy. She loved to cook and entertain for family and friends, and had a way of making people laugh and put a smile on their faces.
She was a faithful member of Concordia Lutheran Church where she served in many capacities. Jesus was her Lord and Savior. She was a prayer warrior who prayed faithfully for her family and friends daily. Babs was a blessing to all.
Babs is survived by her children, Shelley (Kevin) Rice, Kristi (Scott) Gullickson, Melissa (Randy) Faul, Maria Bruggeman and Timothy (Sarah) Oistad; 12 grandchildren Nicole, Ryan, Andrea, Kolby, Cal, Tyler, Karisa, Micah, Logan, Reese, Kane and Indigo; 19 great-grandchildren Ella, Landon, Jonah, Kallie, Kai, Ava, Selah, Jett, Liam, Penelope, Alice, Oliver, Silas, Lucas, Gwen, Miles, Selmer, Freya and James; 2 brothers and sisters-in-law, Phillip (Janet) Hamre and Dean (Sandy) Hamre, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Josephine; husband, Rodney; brothers, Rolland and Jerome; sisters, Marion, Adelle, Margaret and Delores; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Memorial Service: 11:00 AM, Friday, March 15, 2024, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.
Visitation: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.
Inurnment: City of Fertile Cemetery, Fertile, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
