James Alvin Ohnstad

James ""Jim"" Alvin Ohnstad, age 86, Denver, Colorado died on July 21, 2012 at the Denver VA Medical Center. Burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, August 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline, SD at 2 pm. Horan & McConaty Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jim was born on February 7, 1926 at Altamont, SD to Clarence Benjamin Ohnstad & Anna Maria ""Mary"" Aamold Ohnstad. He graduated from Estelline High School in 1944. He was a dairy milk tester prior to entering the U.S. Army in 1950. Jim served with the 3rd Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company of 223rd Infantry Regiment 40th Division and was honorably discharged on October 16, 1952 with the rank of Corporal earning the Korean Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal, One Bronze Service Star, and the Army Occupation Medal (Japan). He married Grace Stegen on August 12, 1956 at Brookings, SD and together they raised 5 children. In 1957 Jim graduated from South Dakota State College with a Dairy Production and Manufacturing degree. He was a member of the Dairy Judging Team and during his senior year served as president of the Dairy Club where for the first time women were allowed to join. He worked in agriculture in South Dakota for a good share of his life as well as trucking and later in Gillette, WY for Burlington Northern Railroad. During their retirement he and Grace moved to Denver to be closer to family. Grace passed away in June of 2011. Jim was a member of the American Legion, and a life-long member of the Lutheran Church and the VFW serving in the honor guard at military funerals. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the El Riad Shrine for 50+ years. Grateful to have shared his life are Jim's five children, Julie (Bernie) Hendricks, Brookings, SD; Kari (Paul) Blanchard, Denver, CO; Thomas (Janice Wood) Ohnstad, Salem OR; Timothy (Cathy LaPonza) Ohnstad, LosAngeles, CA; Marilee (J.C.) Manalo, Cheyenne, WY; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren with a seventh due in November; brothers Clair Ohnstad, Watertown, SD and Robert (Nancy) Ohnstad, Aberdeen, SD; sister Barbara (Steve) Olsen, Lynnwood, WA and sisters-in-law, Jan Ohnstad, Sandy Ohnstad, Phyllis Ohnstad, and Elaine Ohnstad-Eide; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, Army buddies and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jeanne Ohnstad, brothers John ""Jack"" Ohnstad, Lawrence Ohnstad, and Donald Ohnstad, niece Suzanne Olsen Johnson, sister-in-law Hazel Stegen Dempster, Evelyn Dempster, and Lois Stegen, and brothers-in-law Kermit Stegen and Adrian Dempster, and son-in-law Clark Davidson. A private Funeral Service and Interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery will be held for James by his family. Memorials may be directed to the SDSU Dairy Club, VFW, or the Shriner's Transportation Fund for Burn Victims. Please share your memories of Jim by signing the guestbook or cards may be sent to Julie Hendricks, 414 20th Ave, Brookings, SD 57006.