Luella Ostby

Luella Ostby, age 80, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Tuesday (January 8th) at Riverview Hospital in Crookston, MN. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (January 12th) at the United Methodist Church in Erskine with the Rev. Michelle Miller officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine at a later date. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Luella Mae Ostby was born on May 5, 1932 in Erskine, Minnesota to Henry and Rosella (Truehl) Ostby. She attended school in Erskine and graduated in 1951. In the early fifties, Luella worked for Garden Valley Telephone Company as a telephone operator. She then went out to Portland, Oregon and attended business college. She returned to Erskine and spent many years caring for children in the community. In 1970, Luella was again employed with Garden Valley and worked for them for 37 years. She retired on September 1, 2003. Luella lived with her parents and in her mother's later years, cared for her.She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Erskine.Luella loved children. Even though she never had any of her own, she "adopted" all her nieces and nephews and many of her friends children. She gave gifts, wrote letters and sent birthday cards to many children that she knew through the years.Luella was an avid reader, loved to knit and embroider, and when she was able, wrote many letters to relatives and friends. She also loved science fiction movies, books, and especially enjoyed watching Star Wars and Star Trek.She entered the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine in September of 2008. Luella passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at Riverview Hospital in Crookston, Minnesota at the age of 80 years, nine months and three days.Survivors include three brothers, Leroy (Patty) of St. Hilaire, MN, Wally (Linda) of Tucson, AZ, and Ron (Ruth) of Thief River Falls, MN; 11 nieces and nephews, Robert Ostby, Kathy Lenk, Dale Ostby, Paul Ostby, John Ostby, Lori Ostby, Matt Ostby, Rick Ostby, Lisa Heuer, Kevin Ostby, and Ryan Ostby; special cousin, Patti Bacon, loyal phone companion and friend Linda Jorgenson.She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Harvey; sister-in-law, Carol; and one niece, Angie.Honorary Pallbearers: All of Luella's nieces and nephews.