Theresa Geri Lynn Osteroos, 66, of Burlington, ND, passed away in her home with loving family present February 1, 2022 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer coupled with many years of chronic Lupus. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, May 16, 2022 at Viking Lutheran Church in rural Maddock with Pastor Cassie Borges officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at church.  Burial will be at the Viking Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Theresa loved Jesus, and she loved children.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to Billy Graham Ministries and the Dakota Hope Clinic (Minot North Dakota pregnancy crisis center).

For those who would like to livestream the memorial service on Sunday, February 6, 2022, can go to the link provided: https://vimeo.com/event/1802062

Theresa was born on December 10, 1955 to Herbert and Margot Faleide at the Maddock Memorial hospital in Maddock, ND. After graduating from Maddock High School in 1974 she went on to graduate from the Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, Washington in 1976. She moved to Moorehead, MN to become an administrative assistant for Sweeney and Company. A few years later she enrolled at Minot State as it was called back then and graduated with a Bachelor's of Education Degree in Special Education. She went on to work at a school in Grafton, ND with children with special needs. From there she moved to Minot to work in various schools in the area in the same capacity as a Special Needs teacher. As the years passed she felt she needed to complete her Master's degree in the same field which she did also at MSU.

Theresa being the over achiever that she is, met and married Odd Lauren Osteroos in 1998 after what she always joked was a seventeen year courtship.  Nine months after they were united in marriage, instead of welcoming a baby at that time they started welcoming foster children into their home.  Theresa was passionate about motherhood, and tirelessly loved and supported their dreams through being an amazing parent. Though dozens of children passed through their home over the years, they decided to adopt Vanna at age 17 and Brittney at age 4 in 2004, Sharon at less than a month old in 2008, and became legal guardians of Jazzy Bergie for a time (though Jazzy remains a beloved member of the crew along with many other children).

Theresa retired from teaching this past year 2021, and unfortunately her retirement was short lived. She gave 35 years of service to Minot Public School systems as an early childhood special education teacher.  She loved her work and her guiding hand will be felt and seen through the countless children that she helped during her career.  She loved to travel, and now Lauren will take up that exploring spirit to travel with the youngest still at home, Sharon.

Theresa is preceded in death by her mother, Marge Faleide and father, Herbert Faleide who are both interred at Viking Lutheran Church Cemetery where Theresa will also be laid to rest. She is survived by her sister, Deborah Margean Anderson (Wes); husband, Lauren Odd Osteroos; her children, Dr. Vanna Binning (Jeremiah), Brittney Coady, Sharon Osteroos, and numerous other children that called her "mom" (Jazzy Bergie, Shelby Roberts). Also surviving are her nephew and nieces born to her only sister Deborah Margean Anderson, Nathan Braswell (Amanda), Nicole Emswiler (Dave), and Alexis Kauffman (Shawn).  Theresa also helped to raise Alexis, Nicole and Nathan when they were young and her sister Deborah divorced and needed her help so badly.  Deborah says "We will miss her dearly because she was superhuman. She helped everyone she came in contact with. RIP dear sister in Jesus' arms."