Ann P. Gytri

Ann Pauline Slette Gytri passed quietly at Eventide Care Center in Moorhead on August 6, 2025. Her family is joyful for her in that, at the age of one hundred years, she has moved on to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ann was born on June 13, 1925, in Cottonwood, Minnesota. She was baptized into the Lutheran Church. As an infant Ann moved with her parents Peder and Ruth Slette to a farm near Starbuck, Minnesota. At the age of two and a half, the Slette family relocated to Compton Township in rural Ottertail County, near Wadena/Deer Creek where Ann grew up on the Slette family farm. She was confirmed at Compton Lutheran Church.

At the age of eighteen and a half, in possession of a newly minted teaching certificate from Minnesota State Teachers College (now MSUM), she began her four-decade teaching career in Rollag, Minnesota. In 1945 Ann transferred to Averill School in Averill, Minnesota where she met her husband of fifty-one years, Orvis Julian Gytri. Orvis and Ann married on July 3, 1948, and were together until his death in December 1999.

Ann and Orvis were the parents of two sons, Lowell Dean and Donald James. Ann, Orvis and the boys lived on the family farm in Flowing Township, Clay County.

Ann balanced her life as a farm wife, mother, teacher and community volunteer up to her retirement in 1986. During that time Ann continued teaching in Hitterdal, Glyndon and Felton. She was involved in the community serving as substitute organist at Scandia Lutheran and Concordia Lutheran Churches and chaired the centennial anniversary celebration at Scandia Lutheran. Ann was a member of the Swedish Society beginning in 1995 and served as the organization’s secretary. In addition, she was a member of Sons of Norway and enjoyed participating in local Scandinavian festivals. Ann was a member of the Moorhead Area Retired Educators Association and served as its president in 2001.

Eventide Senior Living Communities have always been a special cause in her volunteer life since Eventide’s founding in 1951. Ann and Orvis were part of the original Lutheran contributors to the development of the Eventide center. Over the years Ann volunteered at Eventide in various positions such as the gift shop and post office and made regular rounds of visits to residents of Eventide. She served on the Eventide Board of Directors for nine years.

Ann is survived by her sons Lowell Dean (Sharon Marie McHattie) and Donald James (Jennifer Behrens), her grandchildren: Lisa Gytri, Brett Gytri, Bryce Gytri, Bryanna Gytri Friedman, Bethany Gytri Hill, and her great grandchildren: Elsie and Easton Gytri, Baya, Byanka and Baxter Friedman, Kendallynn, Kendra, Kambry Hill, and Ambrose Gytri.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 20th at Wright Funeral Home Chapel in Moorhead with visitation at 5 PM, service at 6 PM and fellowship at 7 PM.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Eventide Foundation or your charity of choice.