Carolyn Ostrand

Carolyn G. (Jensen) Ostrand, of rural Mason City, passed peacefully from this life on January 17, 2022, at Quality Senior Village in Broken Bow, NE.

Carolyn was born March 9, 1935, at the family home south of Mason City, NE. She was the sixth child born to Ed and Gladys (Olsen) Jensen. Carolyn attended school at the Beechville rural school and finished elementary school at Basin Dist. 37, Mason City High School, graduating with the class of 1952, and Kearney State Normal Training where she received her teaching certificate in 1953. She taught one year at Union Hill, Dist. 146, south of Mason City, and two years at Flatbottom Rural School south of Ansley, NE, where she met her future husband, Bennie Rex Ostrand.

Carolyn married Bennie Rex on June 18, 1955, at the Zion Lutheran Church south of Mason City, NE. They made their home in the Flatbottom area for more than 55 years where they farmed & ranched the Ostrand homestead property until poor health would not allow.

Faith, family, music, and her kitchen were Carolyn’s great loves. She was well known for her amazing meals – especially the delicious pies and rolls. The aroma of baking breads and sounds of the Gaithers coming from her kitchen drew many a guest and family member in where they found a place waiting at the table. Her six children were the recipients of the majority of her time and attention, whether it was attending their sporting events, music concerts, 4-H meetings and competitions, church sponsored activities, or gathering with neighborhood children. Her faith and the gift of salvation were of vital importance to her.  Passing that faith along to their children was her life mission. She was an active member of Mt. Zion Sunday School and Burr Oak Church. Other organizations in which she was involved were Ladies Aide, Willing Workers Club, and FFA Mothers and Wives group to name a few. She was very adamant about community involvement and was key in helping begin the “Literary Program” which gathered the Flatbottom and surrounding area to the one room schoolhouse for a night of fun, fellowship, and food throughout the winter months. She helped to organize and write many of the Mason City Homecoming programs that brought that community and the surrounding area together once each summer. Their home was always a place for one more, including missionaries, VBS teachers, or a rural schoolteacher needing housing. One never saw Carolyn without her beloved “teammate”, Bennie Rex, until his passing on January 22, 2011.

Those left to celebrate her life include her children, Neil (Julie) Ostrand, and Kathy Ostrand of Mason City, Karen (Dan) Saathoff of Miller, Ann (Marlin) Slingsby of Kearney, Karla (Randy) Bauer of Pleasanton, Carl (Tonya) Ostrand of Grand Island; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, who lovingly called her Granny, many extended relatives, friends, and neighbors including the caring individuals of Aseracare Hospice of Kearney and Quality Senior Village of Broken Bow.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bennie Rex, parents, brothers, Ramon, Harlan, Rolan and Maynard Jensen, sister, Marian Rasmussen and brother-in-law, Don Rasmussen.

Funeral Service will be Monday, January 24, 2022, at 2:30 pm at the Homeward Trail Bible Camp Chapel with Rev. Paul Olson officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 pm in the Basin Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Homeward Trail Bible Camp or E Free Pre-school Little Lights. A visitation will take place on Sunday, January 23^rd from 1:00 to 5:00 pm with family greeting 3:00 5o 5:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.