Thea Elaine Engstrom, 95, of Leeds, ND, died Sunday, April 11, 2010, in her home under the care of Mercy Hospice.

Mrs. Engstrom was born February 17, 1915, to Edward and Florence (Ostereng) Schurr in New Salem, ND. The family lived near Almont, ND, until moving to Fargo when she was six years old. She attended school in Fargo, graduating from Fargo Central High School in 1933 and from North Dakota Agricultural College in 1938. After her college graduation, she moved to Leeds where she taught Home Economics, Chemistry, Latin, and Elementary Health. On June 21, 1941, she married Emil L. Engstrom. They moved to the Fargo area where Elaine continued teaching at Hunter, ND, for a few years before returning to Leeds to settle on Emil's maternal grandparents' homestead. Here they raised their family and farmed for many years. The farm was named a Centennial Farm in 1989. Emil died in 1992. Elaine chose to remain on the farm as she dearly loved nature, gardening, bird watching, and observing the crop-growing season. She lived on the farmstead for nearly seventy years. Elaine was an excellent seamstress and spent many hours sewing clothes and quilts for her family. She loved to cook, especially enjoying big family meals. She enjoyed music, was an avid reader, and looked forward to solving the Fargo Forum puzzles. She was blessed with a positive attitude and was kind to everyone. Family was foremost in her life. Although her brother, Gar, lived in the Chicago area, he and Elaine visited weekly via telephone. She was a member of the Leeds Lutheran Church, WELCA, and Homemakers' Club.

Survivors include daughters: Penny (Dennis) Fogelson of Albertville, MN, Peggy (Curtis) Jacobson of Leeds, Patty (Mike) Gould of Sioux Falls, SD, Paula (Les) Haagenson of Leeds; brother: Garmond Schurr of Oak Park, IL; grandchildren: Dan (Mechelle) Fogelson of Edina, MN, Doug Fogelson of Leeds, David Fogelson of Cold Spring, MN, Jay Gould of Victoria, MN, Stacy Gould of Lincoln, NE, Josh (Becky) Haagenson of Mahnomen, MN, Tessa Haagenson of Grand Forks, ND; great grandchildren: Tiffany, Kjirsten, Kelly Ann Fogelson of Edina, MN, and Jared, Emily, Alisha Fogelson of Cold Spring, MN.

Private services are pending.





Condolences:

Our sincere condolences to the Fogelson's and all of their family members.  John and Joan Long  Glyndon, MN

Today I saw in The Forum of Fargo,ND about Elaine's death. In the listings of survivors I noticed Penny (Dennis) Fogelson of Albertville, MN. Penny, I went to NDSU with you about 1960. My roommate was Linda(Lucken)Ahlberg our freshmen year. I still correspond with JoAnn Copeland of Starkweather, ND and saw her at Minot about 1yr. ago. It would be fun to catch up on what you have been doing since college. Also I noticed that Elaine had taught in Hunter, ND and that is where I am from and now live in rural Hunter,ND.  MY CONDOLENCES! PATTY (Tate) MOTTER