She grew up in the Woodland neighborhood of Duluth and graduated from Central High School. She married Floyd Ostman, settled on his family farm in Midway Township, and had one daughter. Charlene worked many years as a bank teller at the Duluth National Bank in the West End, as a bookkeeper for Proctor Builders’ Supply, many years as a teller at the Proctor Federal Credit Union, and as treasurer of Augustana Lutheran Church in Midway. She also worked side by side with Floyd running their dairy farm for nearly 40 years. She was diligent and dedicated in everything she did.
Charlene enjoyed gardening, sewing, playing the organ, baking, cooking and following Minnesota Twins baseball. She was very involved with her church, and loved helping with their church dinners and annual bazaar. Her baked specialties of orange bread, fruitcakes and pies were well known and sought after around the area. For a time she baked for farmers’ markets in Proctor and Duluth, and helped out in the home arts area at the Proctor Fair. She also especially loved participating in organ lessons and the friends she made in these groups.
Charlene was cheerful, easy going, patient, generous and a friend to all. She thoroughly enjoyed people, loved to visit, had an amazing memory, and always had stories to tell about the farm and other happenings. She was strong, smart and immensely capable – problem solving around the farm, making repairs, driving tractors and tending cows.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Mildred Truscott, Beatrice (Abby) Lyons, and Dorothy Dallmann, brothers Roy Truscott and Ashley Truscott, and husband Floyd.
She is survived by daughter Peggy Ostman (Duluth), two grandcats, many special nieces and nephews, and a community of friends.
A heartfelt thank you to the Essentia Health Hospice team, Cancer Center, and West Duluth Clinic staff for their excellent care and kindness.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 17th, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, and 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service Wednesday, April 18th at Augustana Lutheran Church, 3251 Midway Road. Memorials may be made to Augustana Lutheran Church, 3251 Midway Road, Duluth, MN 55810. Please leave a memory of Charlene or words of support for her family at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com
