Goodbye to Anna Ostrom (1890-1972)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Each Wednesday I have been sharing the life stories that my late "cousin" Ed Ostrom accumulated in his family history research. I continue to look forward to learning each week what the multitude of Ed's files tell me to write.

This week we conclude the life story of Anna Tomine Ostrom nee' Brekke.  Anna was Ed's paternal grandmother.

IMAGE: Anna Ostrom, taken in 1953, Woodburn,

Oregon while celebrating 45th wedding Anniversary.

Photograph from the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom

After farming in North Dakota and Oregon, in 1965 Anna and Oscar would retire and settle into a house on Doud Street in Woodburn, Oregon to enjoy their senior years. They would occasionally be seen about town in their Ford "Falcoon," as Oscar liked to call it.

They still enjoyed visiting with their children and grandchildren, especially happy when folks dropped in. They appreciated warm weather so picnics and reunions could take place; reunions of Douglas, North Dakota "expatriates" would still being held with Anna and Oscar fully involved in these.

Perhaps the last known letter written by Anna Ostrom, one of today's family keepsakes, was sent to her granddaughter Janice. It reads as follows:

"Woodburn, OR
 December 14, 1966

Hello dear folks. Hope you are all well. We are not too bad. I am so thankful I can be up and walking around. I am so weak can’t do anything at all. So up to Grandpa [Oscar] to do the house work. And he is doing a good job. Thank you so much for the letters and card. I can’t write so I tell you the days are long. Well dear one this has to be all. Write again. We do love to hear from you. And hope you are all feeling well. And God Bless you all and a Blessed Christmas.

[undecipherable word love, Anna??]"

In November of 1968, Anna and Oscar would contact a local attorney to finalize a joint will. In summary their will says that the "survivor of us shall own and control all of the property, real or personal during the lifetime of the survivor to sell or dispose of as desired." The will names all eight of their children and they 'devise and bequeath' all their property to their surviving five children to share and share alike. The will names their son Arvid Ostrom to be their executor to pay their debts and bills and as executor he is given full power and authority to dispose and sell any of their property at his discretion without order from the Court.

Anna would begin to have a series of small strokes that started in 1967. At some point she no longer could be cared for at home and would begin her stay at a local nursing home. While her strokes were a major contributor to her health, the actual cause of death for Anna was a heart attack. She died at 11:00 a.m. on 29 July 1972 at the Woodburn Care Center, Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon.

IMAGE: Roadside sign for the Belle Passi Cemetery. Digital file

from the family collection of Darlene M. Steffens.

Anna's funeral was held on August 1, 1972 and she was buried at the Belle Passi Cemetery in Woodburn, Oregon. Just short of ten months after her death, her husband Oscar also passed away. He died on May 22, 1973. He had a sudden heart attack and died at home. He was buried next to Anna.

IMAGE: Ostrom headstone at Belle Passi Cemetery, Woodburn, OR.

For Anna (1890-1972) and Oscar (1884-1973) Ostrom.

Digital file from the family collection of Darlene M. Steffens

Anna and Oscar's youngest son [NAME WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY] has added, within the Belle Bassi Cemetery, a stone bench to commemorate his parents. The bench is in a quiet, picturesque and serene section of the cemetery where many members of the Ostrom family are buried, including Anna and Oscar.

You are welcome to stop by anytime and sit a spell.

IMAGE:  "IN LOVING MEMORY OF ANNA & OSCAR OSTROM."

Photograph from the family collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

With that it is now time to say "Goodbye" to Anna and Oscar and get ready to learn about others in Ed's family tree.

Dear FOLKS, thank you once again for stopping by to see more of Ed's family information he gathered for us. Next week I'll begin to introduce Ed's maternal side of his tree. I am not familiar with these people, so it will be interesting where the saved information takes us. Be sure to stop by then.

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/05/goodbye-to-anna-ostrom-1890-1972.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. I hope you have a good week.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens. All rights reserved.