Owen Alton Estling

Owen Estling died on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 94.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church of Boyd with Rev. Lori Wold officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Masks and social distancing will be observed. A live stream of the service will be on Owen’s obituary page beginning at 2PM.

A walk thru visitation will be held on the day of the service from 1:30pm until 2:00 PM. Masks and social distancing will be observed.

Owen Alton Estling was born on February 11, 1926 to Carl and Hilda (Marie) (Haugen) Estling.  He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Boyd.  Owen attended school in Boyd and quit after the 8th grade to help on the family farm.  Owen joined the US Army and was stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA and served in Okinawa.  Owen would tell of learning to dance while he was stationed in Washington.

Owen married Ardis Gilsrud on April 15, 1951 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Watson.  Two sons were born to the union-Gerald and David.  Owen and Ardis lived their married life in the Boyd area.  In addition to farming, Owen worked at North Star Dairy, pounded nails as a carpenter, and spent many years on the road selling agricultural liquid fertilizer.

Until health issues placed Owen in Home Front, Montevideo, he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran where he sang in the church choir and served on the church council.  He was a member of the American Legion Olen-Horgen Post 198 where he served as Post Commander and adjutant and the VFW Strand Saboe Post 5247.  Owen spent many years working the American Legion Bingo stand at the LQP County Fair.

Owen and Ardis enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and California and time at the cabin on Lake Minnewaska in the summer.  Owen loved playing cards, visiting, hunting and fishing at Lake of the Woods, and dancing.  He especially loved having his grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit.  He appreciated all of his “Sweeties” who cared for him at his home, at Home Front and at Luther Haven.

Owen is survived by his two sons: Gerald (Linda), Boyd and David (Carla), Dawson; six grandchildren: Courtney (Troy) Hanson , Hancock, Jason(Tracy) Estling, Cottonwood, Jeremy Estling, Boyd, Troy (Amy) Estling, Dawson, Trevor (Lilly) Estling, White, SD and Travis (Karrissa) Estling, Clarkfield; eleven great-grandchildren: Claire, Carlee and Rylee Hanson, Bryce and Bryant Estling, Allison, Alivia, and Aftyn Estling, McKenna Estling, Sydney Estling and Jackson Estling; sister, Iola (Benny ) Peterson of Morrhead; two sisters-in-law,: Lorraine Gilsrud ,Bloomington, and Sharon Gilsrud, Longville; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Owen was welcomed into the heavenly choir on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.  He was preceded in death by his wife Ardis on August 2, 2010, his parents, Carl and Marie; and sister and brother-in-law, Marvell and Milo Moen.  Blessed be his memory.