Helny Ohnstad

Helny Ohnstad, 94, passed away July 12th, 2014 at Altru Hospital after suffering complications from a heart attack. She died just four days short of her 95th birthday. The last survivor among six daughters of Elling and Kjerstine (Underdal) Ohnstad, Helny was born July 16th, 1919 in rural Fairdale, ND. After attending elementary school and being graduated as valedictorian of her Fairdale High School class, she enrolled at the University of North Dakota to concentrate on English, Choral Music, and Norwegian. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Grey Gown honors, she also was named co-salutatorian of the combined University graduates of 1941. Her first six years of teaching experience were at Des Lacs, ND and Hallock, MN, after which she put her professional career on hold for ten years in order to help her sisters care for their invalid father and mother who was also in ill health. It was at this time that Helny was offered a position in the office of Senator William Langer in Washington DC. As early as grade school, Helny had a strong interest in politics and although this opportunity would have been her greatest aspiration, she declined the offer because of her greater concern for her family. While at Fairdale, she served two years as Superintendent of the Fairdale School. After the death of her father, Helny joined the English faculty in South Junior High in Grand Forks, a position she held for 28 years. Here she was involved in coaching many speech events as well as serving as co-director of several musicals. For sixteen years she was director of the Trinity Free Lutheran Church Choir. Following retirement, Helny was selected for the Grand Forks Teachers' Hall of Fame. Always interested in her heritage, she was for three years a volunteer teacher of Norwegian at Sons of Norway, a lodge for which she held Life Membership and for which she served as secretary for twelve years. Throughout life, Helny had a love for writing. At about age 10, she wrote to a farm magazine, suggesting that the magazine should have a Children's Page. Apparently never having heard of copyright laws, she further volunteered to copy a chapter of a favorite book each month and submit it for publication. She received a gracious answer, thanking her for her interest but regretting there was no room for a Children's Page at present. Helny continued various assignments in writing throughout life, and in her 80's her project was to complete several stories and factual incidents about early life in North Dakota as told by her father who was a pioneer settler's son. As a descendant of a homesteader, Helny felt a deep attachment to the land, and she was often an outspoken advocate for the family farmer in his constant struggle with the elements and finances. A member of Trinity Free Lutheran congregations, Helny was also a lifetime supporter of the church of her childhood, Aadalen Free Lutheran of Fairdale, where she was active in the restoration of that historical church building. For more than 40 years, she and her sisters organized an annual Norwegian worship service at Aadalen as well as at Trinity. Always active, her greatest place was in service to her family, her friends, her students, her church, and her hometown. Preceding Helny in death were her parents and her sisters: Signe Ohnstad, Inger Ohnstad, Lisa Erickson, Gerd Knudsvig, and Edna Ohnstad. Also preceding her in death were a very special aunt and uncle, Ragna and Emil Hedlund, and two brothers-in-law: George Knudsvig and Arnold Erickson. Surviving are nieces Karen (Dean) Jacobson of Grand Forks and Gail (Robert) Hume of Fallbrook, CA and a nephew, Gordon (Judith) Knudsvig of Detroit Lakes, MN. Also surviving are three great- nephews: Peter Knudsvig, Tyler (Maggie) Knudsvig and their son, Hudson, and Chad (Carrie) Jacobson as well as two great- nieces: Katie (Jason) Urbaniak and children, Graham and Juliana; and Megan (Scott) DeGraeve together with their children, Oliver and Estella. Also surviving Helny is a very special cousin, Guri Underdal of Norway, and several other very special cousins in the United States and in Norway. Visitation will be at Amundson Funeral Home at 2975 42nd Street in Grand Forks on Monday, July 14th from 3-5 pm with a prayer service at 4:30 pm. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Free Lutheran Church at 3426 Chestnut Street, Grand Forks at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 15th. Interment will take place at the Ohnstad Family Cemetery in Fairdale, ND at 2:30 pm. Designated memorials are Trinity Free Lutheran Church and Altru Cancer Center.