Karen Lynn Ostgarden

Karen Ostgarden, 69, Moorhead, MN, passed away Monday, January 6th, 2025, at Eventide, Fargo, ND. Her gentle, humorous, and caring spirit will be missed by everyone she knew and loved.

Karen Lynn Cederberg was born in Fargo, ND on October 25th, 1955, to Vernon and Elenor (Woodward) Cederberg. She was baptized at Hawley Lutheran and confirmed at Hegland Lutheran in Hawley, MN. She grew up along the shores of Silver Lake in rural Hawley, MN. She attended school at Hawley Public School and graduated in 1973. Karen went to Concordia College and graduated with a math major and computer science minor in 1977. She was united in marriage to Mark Stewart Ostgarden at Hegland Lutheran on May 28, 1977. She and Mark moved to Mandan, ND for a time, but moved back to Hawley in 1980. She was a computer programmer for Steiger Tractor and Crystal Sugar. It was while they were in Hawley that they had their daughter Alison. In 1986, Mark and Karen moved to South Saint Paul while Mark attended the Luther Northwestern Seminary to become a Lutheran Pastor. Karen continued her computer programming work at National Computer Systems (NCS) in Eagan. They had their son Joseph while on internship in Lakeville, MN. They would later return to Lakeville for Mark’s first call.

In 1994, Mark and Karen moved to Hatton, ND and she found work as a high school secretary for Hatton Public School. Karen flourished in a small town and loved her work at the school and building friendships with the people in her congregation. In 2000, Mark and Karen moved to Valley City, ND where she was an office manager for the Allen Memorial Library at Valley City State University and later as an office manager for the Technology Education department at VCSU. She and Mark were involved in starting a Celebrate Recovery branch in Valley City. In 2014, Mark and Karen moved to Moorhead, MN to be closer to their growing family and be active grandparents. It was at this time that she and Mark became actively involved in the Lighthouse Church in Fargo, ND. She held a variety of positions until her retirement.

Karen delighted in being a friend to all people she met. She loved being involved in congregational life such as choir, hand bell choir, Sunday school teaching, bible study, and small group ministry. She was an avid cross stitcher, loved to play games and watch movies. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and was always cheering on her loved ones at concerts, games and more. She loved to spend her summer days at Silver Lake with her children, grandchildren, and her sister Janet.

Karen is survived by her husband, Mark; two children, Alison (Kelly) Voss, Tintah, MN and Joseph (Theresa), Grand Forks, ND; six grandchildren, Jacob and Abigail Voss, and Nathaniel, Eli, Charles, and Alex Ostgarden; her siblings, Keith (Jennel) Cederberg, Hawley, MN, Annie (Brad) Cardwell, King George, VA, and Janet Cederberg (Marc Helgeson) Enumclaw, WA and their families.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents Vernon and Elenor Cederberg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Life Center in Fargo, ND.

Visitation will be Monday, January 13, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 P.M., at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

The memorial service will be Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., at Lighthouse Church, Fargo, ND.

Burial will take place in the spring at Little Norway Cemetery near Fertile, MN.