Carmen Lois Ostby

     Carmen Ostby, 84, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed peacefully from this life to the next on January 28, 2025, at home with her children present and under hospice care. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton at 1:00 pm with Pastor Cheryl Berg presiding. Family visitation will precede the service at noon at the church. Inurnment will be at Hillside Cemetery, Rosholt, South Dakota.

     Carmen was born on April 3, 1940, in Sisseton, South Dakota to Lawrence and Mary (Solin) Bendickson. Carmen grew up in Sisseton with older brothers, Marlin and DuWayne, and her younger sister, Joanne. She graduated from Sisseton High School in 1958 and participated in choir, band and church activities. During her senior year she met the love of her life, Dean Ostby from Rosholt. Carmen and Dean were married on October 4, 1958, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton.

     Carmen and Dean settled in Rosholt where they began their family with the birth of Tim and then Tami. Carmen was a young wife, mom, homemaker and friend to many. Extended family gatherings were numerous and joyful. In 1968, the family made a significant move to Two Harbors, Minnesota. While in Two Harbors, Carmen worked as an Avon Lady, a fill-in cook at the elementary school, and served as the secretary of their church, Bethlehem Lutheran. The family enjoyed many activities including snowmobiling, camping and socializing where lifelong friends were made. 

     In 1974, the family moved back to the area when they purchased the East Side Market and Laundromat in Wheaton. Open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, the business provided an opportunity for the family to work together until the store was sold in 1982. Carmen worked at the Corner Drug for several years and ended her working career as the secretary at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Carmen and Dean enjoyed their retirement years. They wintered in Florida where they enjoyed making new friends, the Florida sunshine, and many different activities. They traveled to Norway in 2000. 

     Carmen was a kind and friendly woman. She excelled at baking and generously shared her goodies with others. She had many friends and enjoyed playing cards and visiting. Of course, family was especially important to her. Marie was lovingly welcomed into the family. One of her greatest joys was being Grandma to Emma. She took great pride in all of Emma’s accomplishments and was happy to attend her wedding to Andy in 2023. She was a loving care provider to Dean in his final years and looked forward to being reunited with him. Carmen’s strong and abiding faith provided a great deal of comfort to her and her family in her last days.

     Carmen is survived by her son Tim (Marie) Ostby of Spicer, Minnesota; daughter Tami Ostby of Wheaton; granddaughter Emma Ostby (Andy Olson) of Richfield, Minnesota; her faithful furry companion Peter; and many nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dean in 2009; siblings Marlin (Peg and Jean) Bendickson, DuWayne (Marlene) Bendickson and Joanne Wollan; parents-in-law Pete and Fanny Ostby; sisters and brothers-in-law Beulah (Willard) Braaten, Betty (Lloyd) Pearson, Bonnie (Darrell) Ekstrom, Faye (Louie) Akerson and other friends and relatives.

     Carmen was loved and will be greatly missed, We have been blessed to have her in our lives and her spirit lives on in us. Memorials are preferred to the Wheaton Community Diner or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.