Lena Vangstad

LIFE HISTORY for LENA VANGSTAD
Lena Vangstad, age 105 of Osakis passed away on July 4, 2007 at the Community Memorial Home in Osakis, MN.
Lena was born on July 29, 1901 in Gordon Township, Todd County, MN five minutes after her twin sister, Thilda to Mikal and Oline (Langdahl) Vangstad. She was a graduate of Osakis High School in 1919. She also completed her Bachelor of Science degree in teaching and also completed her Masters degree at the University of Minnesota. She did graduate studies at the University of Chicago, the University of Berkley and the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks while employed at the schools as an instructor. Lena began her teaching career in a one-room school house known as District 53 in Reynolds Township, Todd Co. Lena then took a job teaching at the Langdon, ND Public School. She taught at Winona State University and then at Valley City State College, now known as Valley City State University in Valley City, ND. Lena retired in 1971 and moved back with her twin sister Thilda to her hometown of Osakis in 1983.
She was a member of the Elim Lutheran church in rural Osakis, both the state and national education associations, the AAUW (American Association of University Women) and the Delta Kappa Gamma, a teaching sorority. Lena prided herself on her lifelong love of learning. She was an avid reader and stayed in contact over the years with many of her former students and colleagues.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her 3 brothers, Ole and Arthur Vangstad and an infant brother, George, 8 sisters, her identical twin, Thilda Vangstad, Marie Susag, Martha Martine, Helga Klukken, Anna Flynn, Esther Vangstad , Ruth Hultgren and Margaret Erickson.
She is survived by 21 nieces and nephews, Sylvia Johnson, Orville Vangstad, Muriel Grams, Darlyne Dunn, Opal Nelson, Norma Larson, Gloria Didier, R.Virgil Klukken, Beverly Grossman, Marian Gensicke, Leroy Klukken, Lloyd Klukken, Elroy Vangstad, Lowell Klukken, Shirley Fischer, Edna Hawkins, Gladys Askegard, Pat and Mike Flynn, Donald Vangstad, Leland Erickson.
Funeral services for Lena will be held on Saturday, July 7 at 11:00 am at Elim Lutheran Church with Rev. Wilmore Gunderson officiating. Musicians were Juanita Klukken, Sonja Starry, Vicki Larson and Marlene Larson, Ray Mikkelson, Myron and Allen Larson. Interment is in the church cemetery near her twin sister, Thilda.
Pallbearers are Don Vangstad, Orville Vangstad, Terry Flynn, Leland Erickson, Lowell Klukken and David Susag.