Orene Gilbertson Sjolander

Orene Gilbertson Sjolander, 90, Fargo, ND, formerly Moorhead, MN, died on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in Eventide Senior Living, Fargo, ND.
Orene, the daughter of Gilbert and Gina Lee Gilbertson, was born on July 10, 1926 at rural Brooten, MN, where she grew up. She was baptized, confirmed, and later married in rural Big Grove Lutheran Church and attended a rural school through eighth grade. She then attended, and graduated from Brooten High School, after which she enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.
After two years at Concordia, World War II was still raging and she answered a plea in the newspaper for secretaries and typists needed at the Port of Embarkation, Oakland, California. She worked at the Oakland Army Base and later at Fort Mason in San Francisco until after the war was over. She then returned to Moorhead to continue her studies at Concordia College where she graduated in 1949. Following graduation, she taught for a number of years at Wolverton High School.
She was married to Glenn Sjolander on August 6, 1950. After he became Clay County Deputy Motor Vehicle Registrar for the State of Minnesota, she worked for him until 1970 when the State of Minnesota turned the motor vehicle registration and licensing over to the counties. She then worked for Clay County as Deputy Auditor in the motor vehicle office until she retired in 1991.
She was active in both Church and civic organizations. She was a charter member of the local League of Women Voters, and held various offices in the Clay County DFL Party. She was District secretary-treasurer for the Dr. Noblitt Campaign for Congress. She and her husband were both very active in the women’s and men’s Junior Chamber organizations, and were charter members of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister and brother-in-law.
She is survived by her son Douglas Diane Sjolander, Moorhead; and daughters Gail Al Olson, Fargo and Donna Carlson, Moorhead; she is also survived by 8 grandchildren Anne Luke Smith, Kristen Dave McCabe, Daniel Jerra Sjolander, Bradley Laura Sjolander, Nathan Olson and Samantha, Sadie and Leigh Carlson; and 9 great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Friday, September 23, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. in The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN.
Visitation: Thursday, September 22, 2016, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, and one hour before the funeral at the church.
Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.
Video tribute and online guestbook at www.wrightfuneral.com