Carol Elaine Osterhus

Carol Elaine Osterhus went home to be with her Lord on Christmas Day. In her final moments she was surrounded by her three devoted daughters and a beloved granddaughter, leaving them to be reunited with her husband of 68 years, David, and her son Daniel, who both preceded her in death.

Carol was born on December 15, 1933 in Anamoose, North Dakota, the second child to Fred and Emma Mosal, following her brother Warren. The family later moved to Minnesota, where Carol met David at Robbinsdale High School; whenever her grandchildren asked, she would shyly recount how they met because she asked David for help in Geometry class. After Carol graduated from Mounds Midway School of Nursing, Carol and David married and were blessed with four children - Rebecca, Julia, Deborah, and Daniel. Soon after they were married, they began their adventure in mission work, which began at Moody Bible Institute and later to study Spanish in Costa Rica. From 1961 - 1975, Carol and David served with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Shell, Ecuador; while David flew supplies into the jungle, Carol helmed the radio, tracked David's route, and kept an inventory of supplies - all while managing their children and the busy guest house. In addition, Carol managed to find time to use her RN license at the local hospital in Shell, serving as a volunteer. Carol and David continued their service in Ecuador as dorm parents with Avant Mission, from 1975 - 1976. Carol was beloved by many Missionary Kids (MKs) from her time as a dorm parent, remembered as caring, thoughtful, and loving. From 1976 - 1987, Carol served as the school nurse at Alliance Academy in Quito, Ecuador, while David was business manager for GMU missionaries.

From 1987 - 1998, Carol and David continued to serve with Avant as mission representatives in Minneapolis - opening their home to traveling missionaries and ministering to MKs. Carol wrote thousands of greeting cards to the many families involved with Avant, with David assisting by addressing and mailing each card that had been written with care. During their time as mission representatives, Carol continued to provide an open, hospitable, and loving home in which many missionaries found refuge.

Carol and David continued to adventure throughout their retirement, and visited more than 50 countries. They also enjoyed their annual trips to the Boundary Waters with Julie's family, trekking into the backwoods even into their 70s.

Carol was preceded in death by her son, Daniel, and husband, David. She leaves behind a vast family; her four children: Rebecca Osterhus, Julia (John) Pugleasa, Deborah (OG) Blouin, and Sue (Kesh) Osterhus Pillai; eleven grandchildren: Luke (Tenney) Blouin, Kyla (Trey) Moore, Rachael (Jacob) Dreyer, Ellen (Brian) Pugleasa Gaouette, Marie (Jonathan) Furuseth, Daniel Pugleasa, Phoebe Osterhus, Aliyah Pillai, Tanaya Pillai, Jaiden Pillai, and Orion Pillai; and eleven great grandchildren. She especially loved giving each new great grand baby an "Ama kiss," blessing them with a kiss on their forehead to start their new lives.

The legacy of love that she started continues on in the growing family she leaves behind.

Carol's life will be celebrated on January 17, 2026, at The North Church @ 4:00pm with visitation beginning at 3:00pm. With a luncheon to follow.

The North Church

5151 Program Ave

Mounds View, MN 55112