Linda Marie (Wentzel) Sjostrand, 68

Linda Marie (Wentzel) Sjostrand, 68, Hazen, N.D. died on the morning of Tuesday, February 16, 2016 surrounded by her family, at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson, N.D. after a three-year battle with cancer.
Linda was born May 26, 1947 in Fergus Falls, Minn. to Harold Emmett Wentzel, Sr. and E. Marie (Holmquist) Wentzel.  The eldest of five children, Linda graduated from Underwood High School in 1965 and pursued degrees in Bible and Social Work from California Lutheran Bible College and Concordia College respectively.  
She married Dewayne W. Sjostrand in 1972 and set her heart to raising her three children, Aaron, Bethany, and Ann.
In 1979, Linda and Dewayne settled their young family in Hazen, where her roots grew deeply, and Hazen became her home.  Linda was active in her community as a member of Christian Women’s Club, Brownie Scouts troop leader, AWANA leader, and youth group leader. She was employed for many years at Hardware Hank. After her children were grown, Linda received her license in social work and invested herself in the lives of the residents of Knife River Group Home.
Linda purposed herself to live her life in the reflection of her Savior.  In childlike faith on her grandmother’s lap, she pledged her whole being to Jesus.  She trusted in His death and resurrection to secure her place with the Father.   Second only to her love of her Lord were her family and friends; for her there was no difference. She lived to serve others and sought out the broken and wounded.  Her absence is felt, and she will be missed.
She is survived by her husband, Dewayne, Hazen; her son, Aaron (Erica) Sjostrand, Louisville, Ky.; her daughters, Bethany (Kyle) Scammon, Dickinson, and Ann Sjostrand, Fargo, N.D.; her grandchildren, Titus, Clara, Jesse, Shaun, and Maddie; her mother, Marie Wentzel, Fergus Falls; her brothers, Hal (June), Moorhead, Minn. and Richard (Deb), Underwood, Minn.; her sisters Darlene (Jeff) Hass, Lisbon, N.D. and Lynette (Duane) Dornbusch, Fergus Falls; and her beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children.
Linda was preceded in death by her father Harold Wentzel, her parents-in-law Chester and Nancy Sjostrand, and her brother-in-law Stuart Cox.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the New Bethel Congregational Church Building Fund.
Visitation was held Thursday, February 18, 2016, 5 to 7 p.m. at Barbot Funeral Home, Hazen.
Services were held Friday, February 19, 2016, 4 p.m. at New Bethel Congregational Church, Hazen, with Pastor Rich Cook presiding.
Burial was held Monday, February 22, 2016, 10 a.m. at Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls.
Arrangements provided by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen and local arrangements by Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls.
Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com