Alma Louise Ohnstad

Alma Ohnstad of North Branch passed away Monday, November 6, 2017 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 88.Alma Louise Rice was born on March 30, 1929, one of six children born to Guy and Jewel Rice, in Cleveland, Texas.Alma graduated from Cleveland, Texas Public Schools and continued her education by receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Houston. Alma taught 10 years in Houston Public Schools, married Michas Ohnstad on June 25, 1965 and came to Minnesota where she served 22 years as an Elementary School teacher with the North Branch Public Schools.Alma was a very passionate educator who was very supportive, kind and interested in all her students. She could make a person feel like they were the most important person in the room. Teaching 2nd grade for many years, Alma became known as a “soft spoken disciplinarian.” Sometimes all she would have to say to students running in the halls was “speed limit.”Very civic minded, Alma served as a board member of the Green Acres Country Care Center/Ecumen of North Branch for many years, was president of the Chisago Lakes Hospital Auxiliary, life-member of the VFW Auxiliary, past 10th District President of the American Legion Auxiliary and an avid volunteer and member of the Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.Alma is survived by her husband Michas Ohnstad of North Branch; brother C. Wade Rice of Houston, Texas; nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her parents Guy and Jewel Rice; brothers David Rice and Earl Rice; sisters Nettie Jean Pearce and Bess McCarter.Pastor Tim Renstrom will officiate at funeral services for Alma: 11 AM; Monday (11/13/17) at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rush City with a time of visitation and reviewal 1 hour prior to the service at the church. The interment will take place at the Lutheran Memorial Cemetery in Hinckley.Memorials may be designated to:Fairview Lakes Medical Center Volunteer Organization Scholarship(formerly Fairview Lakes Auxiliary)Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the:Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel.www.FuneralAndCremationService.com