Marva Deane Odegard

Marva Odegard, 85, passed away on April 13, 2021 after a short illness. Marva was born to Inez (Blessum) Thorstenson and Marvin Thorstenson on July 26, 1935 in Rugby, N.D. As a child and young adult, she moved to Towner, Bismarck and Beaumont, California before graduating form Rugby High School in 1953. After graduating from St. Luke’s School of Nursing (R.N.) in 1956, she worked in Harlingen and Waco, Texas as well as St. Luke’s Fargo Clinic many years later, after a refresher course.

On December 19, 1957 Marva married Dennis in Harlingen, TX to whom she was married over 63 years. They were a great team and took such wonderful care of each other all of those years. They built their family home in the country in 1966, where they continued to reside until her passing. They were blessed with three children Sue, Sally and Tom; as well as five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Marva was an exceptional and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a wonderful listener, and a friend to each one of us. Family time was her greatest joy. Marva also loved to travel, especially with her family, including time spent in Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Marva would never miss any of her kids, or grandkids’ activities, whether a game, concert or recital. She also loved to cheer on the Bison, and the Minnesota Twins.

Marva was blessed with many close friendships throughout her life. She was active in North Buffalo ladies’ groups, Trinity Lutheran Church and Acorn Homemakers, birthday groups, the Icelandic Club as well as serving for many years as a Clay County election judge.

Marva was an avid reader and loved to keep up on current events and politics. As a speed reader, she could devour an entire book in a day on her well-worn Kindle. She loved a nice glass of Chardonnay, was always up for a great game of cards and had a natural sense of style and elegance.

Marva is survived by her husband Dennis, Georgetown, MN; her children Sue (Bob) Dale, Moorhead, MN; Sally Odegard, Scottsdale, AZ; Tom (Nicole) Odegard, Georgetown, MN; and grandchildren Kate(Charlie) Speer, Burnsville, MN; Emily (Sean) Richards, Moorhead, MN; Matthew Dale, Moorhead, MN; Jacob Odegard, Scottsdale, AZ; Jadyn Odegard, Georgetown, MN; and great grandchildren Kaylee, Brooke and Addison Richards, and Colin Speer; her brother Terry (Carol) Thorstenson, Peoria, ILL; and her sister Renae (Roger) Herfindahl, Champlin, MN.

Memorial gathering: Sunday, April 18^th,  from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.

Memorial service:  Monday, April 19^th ,  at 2:00 P.M. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead.^. Masks and social distancing will be required. The livestream of the service will be available on Trinity’s website, as well as Marva’s obituary page on the funeral home website.

Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead.

Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Video tribute, online guestbook and livestream of the service at www.wrightfuneral.com