"Div" (Vivian) Ofstedal

Div (Vivian) Ofstedal, age 74, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Thursday, May 27th, at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine. A gathering of remembrance will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 8th at Div’s home at 20376 370th St. SE, Erskine, MN 56535. There will be a short remembrance program at 2:30 p.m. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

(With the exception of a few additions, the following was written by Div.)

Div (Vivian Rose) was born on May 18, 1947, in Crookston, Minnesota, to parents Myrtle and Palmer Ofstedal. She passed away on May 27, 2021 from complications of a stroke she had in June, 2020.

She attended and graduated from Fertile High School in 1965. After graduation, she worked for insurance companies in Fargo and Minneapolis. In 1967 she was married in Seattle, Washington, and worked at a photo print shop there. After her divorce, she moved back to Minnesota and took a position in the Administrative offices of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. After some years there, she spent time in South Dakota and Texas painting and shingling houses. While in Texas, she also worked in the State Attorney General’s office and for the Internal Revenue Service. After returning to Minnesota from Texas, Div took a position at the Sather Clinic (later known as Dakota Clinic) in Fosston, Minnesota. Se remained as the Division Manager at the clinic for 22 years, taking part-time retirement in late 2004. She ended her working years employed in the Administrative offices of Win-e-Mac Schools.

Div enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, playing board and card games, traveling and being in the outdoor sun. (And she “occasionally” enjoyed a cigarette and a good glass of wine!) She cared deeply for the poor, gay rights, racial equality, and world peace.

Though cooking wasn’t her passion, she could replicate her mother’s macaroni hot dish better than anyone. And she never trusted spices much beyond salt and pepper.

Div’s travel adventures included many Caribbean cruises, a cruise around Hawaii, many trips to Mexico, several trips to New York City, various destinations in Florida and trips to California and Canada for family graduations. She was also able to travel to Italy, once again to visit relatives.

She built a beautiful green house on a piece of property that she pursued for several years and was able to enjoy living in it for 21 years.

She was a member of Faaberg Lutheran Church in Rindal, Minnesota, and was also a member and past president of the Fosston Rotary Club.

Her nieces and nephews were the joy of her life and, after her sister Cindy’s death, Cindy’s grandchildren were extra special to her, but she deeply loved all her nieces and nephews. All her gay friends in Minneapolis and elsewhere were very special to her and she was truly honored to know them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Palmer and Myrtle, her sister Cindy, her brother Paul and sister-in-law Anitra Ofstedal.

She is survived by her sister Janice Helgeson (Omar) of Rindal, brother Don (Jerry Lee) of Minneapolis, brother Wes (Robyn) of Fosston. She is survived by 9 nieces and nephews: Bill Spolar, Connie Chilcott, Hilary Hund, Kent Sveningson, Tom Sveningson, Catherine Ofstedal, Mike Ofstedal, Mary Mitchell, and Peter Ofstedal. She is also survived by 16 great nieces and nephews: Joe Swenson, Gina Mortenson, Laura Mortenson, Kenzie Chilcott, Halle Hund, Paul Ofstedal, Mae Ofstedal, Brett Sveningson, Ryan Sveningson, Zachary Sveningson, Adam Sveningson, Mary Ann Rollie, Harper Ofstedal, Aubrey Ofstedal, Calvin Mitchell, and Cooper Mitchell. And she is survived, too, by 3 great great nieces and nephews: Elyse Martin, Hudson Martin and Ava Mortenson. As Div always said, “They are all my nieces and nephews! Doesn’t matter if they are great or great great. They’re just family!”

HER WISH IS THAT YOU REMEMBER HER WITH FUN AND LAUGHTER AND DO NOT MOURN FOR HER DEATH FOR SHE WAS NOT AFRAID OF LEAVING YOU.