Marie Olive Ostrem

Marie Olive (Tarum) Ostrem, 89, passed away in her home in Shelby, Mont., on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 11, at 10:30 a.m., at the First Lutheran Church with burial in Highland Cemetery. Luncheon to follow.

She was born Jan. 12, 1929, in Somers, Mont., to Mentz and Olga (Lee) Overby. In high school, she and her friends raised enough money to build the first cabin at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. After a year at Pacific Lutheran University, she came to northeastern Montana in 1948 and taught at the Sunnyside School near Larslan. She married Francis Tarum in June 1949.

She was active at Our Savior's Lutheran Church south of Richland and served as organist for over 25 years. When Francis died in 1972, she turned operation of the farm to Marvin and Dale and went back to college. After finishing her degree from Northern Montana College, she taught at North Harlem Hutterite Colony School for three years. In 1981, she married Howard Ostrem and moved to Shelby. Howard died in 1988.

Marie was active at St Luke's Lutheran Church, serving on various boards, and playing organ for several years. She was also active in the community, serving on the board of directors for Crossroads Housing Association. While at the Heritage Center, she brought smiles to everyone with her collection of frogs (ceramic, stone, jewelry) and a reminder to Forever Rely On God (F.R.O.G). She loved flowers and birds.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Erwin; three sisters-in- law, Lucille Overby, Erma Overby and Eunice Tarum; and two brothers-in-law, Gail Stensland and Clarence Tarum.

She is survived by four sons, Arden (Erin) Tarum, of Portland, Ore., Marvin (Deborah) Tarum, of Fort Peck, Mont., Dale (Brenda) Tarum, of Fort Peck, and Carl (Rebecca) Tarum, of Saginaw, Mich .; eight grandchildren, Brent (Jennifer) Tarum, Tyler (Krista) Tarum, Angela (BJ) Kemp, Zachary (Beth Anne) Tarum, Chrissa (Jayson) Nelson, Tieg Tarum, Holly (Chris) DeCock and Nathan Tarum; nine great-grandchildren, Chase Tarum, Leslie Tarum, Josie and Jaxson Kemp, Jackie and Zane Tarum and Cameron, Austin and Cora Nelson; two brothers, Glenn (Mavis) Overby, of Devils Lake, N.D., and Neil (Carol) Overby, of Blaine, Minn .; one brother-in-law, Melvin Tarum, of McPherson, Kan .; two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Tarum, of Great Falls, Mont., and Elinor Stensland, of Great Falls; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be sent to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in Lakeside, Marias Medical Center Hospital or Heritage Center in Shelby, or Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow.

Condolences may be left at bellmortuarymontana.com.