Thief River Falls - Gertrude Bolstad, 90, died Sunday, February 23, 1997 at the CNC Unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls. Arrangements are with Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. John Wollenzien officiation. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, Smiley Township, Pennington County. Visitation was held Tuesday at the Green Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service, and also at the church one hour prior to services.
Casketbearers will be Arnold Hammer, Rufus Olson, Wayne Harder, Clyde Christensen, Gote Anderson and Howard Stowe. Honorary casketbearers will be all of Gertrude's grandchildren.
Gertrude Elizabeth Grundhaus was born on December 3, 1906 in Pepin, the daughter of Ed and Anna (Rettler) Grundhaus. Gertrude was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and as a young girl moved to the Thief River Falls area and attended rural school there. She was united in marriage to Henry Bolstad on October 30, 1925 in Thief River Falls. The couple moved to Smiley Township, Pennington County where they farmed and raised their family. Henry died in 1968 and Gertrude moved into Thief River Falls where she has since resided.
She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church where she was active in Ladies Aid at both churches. She loved playing games, bingo, gardening and spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by son Harry (Blanche) of Thief River Falls; daughters Jeanette Gunsch of Vancouver, WA, Loretta Stowe of Thief River Falls, Vera Travis of Hillsboro, ND, and Marlys (Bob) Hagelin of Blaine; sister Marie Kleinvachter of Thief River Falls; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Marcelene and Mary Grandhaus, both of Thief River Falls; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Henry; son Roy on November 18, 1996; daughters, one in infancy and her twin Doris Bolstad at age eight; brothers Ed, Bill, and Jack; and sisters Lucille Chester and Dorothy LaCrosse.