Grace Alta Ringdahl

Grace Alta (Larson) Ringdahl, 97, of McVille, ND, passed away February 24, 2018 at Nelson County Health System – Care Center in McVille.

Grace was the second child of five, born to Lars and Thea Larson, April 29, 1920, in Field Township.   She grew up on the Larson Farm that was homesteaded by her grandparents.  There wasn’t any electricity on the farm until 1945, then they were able to get a refrigerator.  Grace learned at a young age to do many daily tasks.  She started milking cows at age 9 and baking bread at age 12.  She also carried many pails of water and milk.  She worked many fields, and helped wherever she was needed.  Only Norwegian was spoken at home, but when she went to school, they had to speak English.

Grace attended Field #3 Country School where there were 8 grades.  She was the only one in her grade.  Her Freshman year, she went to Lakota, and her last 3 years of high school were in McVille.  The end of her Senior year, she met the love of her life, Grant Ringdahl.  Grant soon left for California and worked at Lackey on airplanes.  Grace made it to California the next fall, and they were married, two days after Pearl Harbor, Dec. 9, 1941.  They moved back to McVille and Grant was inducted in May.  He returned home in Aug. of 1945, and they made their home in McVille. 

After having a daughter and five boys, Grace decided she would like to work at the hospital.  She took nurses aid classes that were offered in McVille, and started working in the hospital in 1963 for 93 cents an hour.  One more son arrived in 1964.  Grace worked the night shift so she would be home during the day with her children.  She worked for 35 years and retired at 78 years old.

Grace learned to crochet when she was 10 years old.  One of the last things she made was a 5’x3’ crocheted picture of the Lord’s Supper, just by looking at a picture in a magazine.  She made many dollies, bed spreads, table cloths, table runners, and even a 6’x3’ U.S. flag.  She was also passionate about quilting – making a log cabin, state quilt, and many baby quilts.  Knitting?  Yes!  There are many afghans of all designs and sizes.  Her Norwegian baking and bread making were awesome and will be missed by everyone. 

Grace was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.  She was active in the Ladies Aid in McVille, and was always willing to help.

Grace had a good sense of humor and was quite the dancer.  She rode the Galloping Goose to Fargo, which was an exciting experience.  She welcomed everyone to her home and made them feel part of the family.  May God bless her memory. 

Surviving Grace are daughter Gunhild “Gunny” Bosch; sons Lewis (LaVerne), John (Sue), Paul (Ellen), Leslie, Peter (Susan), and Lynn (Stephanie); sister Esther Sateren; 15 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren;1 great great grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceding Grace in death were an infant son and infant daughter; her parents; son-in-law George Bosch; brothers LeRoy Larson and Gerald Larson; sister Theresa Mickels, sister-in-law Connie Ringdahl; and brothers-in-law Merle Sateren, Chuck Mickels, Albert Ringdahl, and Kermit Ringdahl.

The funeral service will be Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 2 p.m. at McVille Lutheran Church, McVille, ND.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the church.  Spring interment will be at Our Saviors Church Cemetery, rural Kloten, ND. 

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