Loretta May Ost

Loretta May Ost

Loretta Ost, 95 of Payson, Az. passed away Sunday February 1, 2026 at Banner Medical Center, Payson, AZ.

Loretta was born to Simon and Mary (Gumke) Geiszler in Kulm, ND on August 16,1930. She grew up in rural Lamoure on her father's rented farm. She attended a rural grade school in Lamoure County, ND. During High School, she attended school in Jud where she participated in many sports including basketball. Recess was her favorite subject. After graduating, she moved to Fargo, ND where she attended a business school where she learned bookkeeping and clerical skills which brought employment at Acme Tool, Fargo, ND.

In the summer of 1951 Loretta, her sister, and a friend went to Washington state to visit a cousin. This visit culminated in a blind date where she met William Atwood. They were married in August 1951. They settled in San Diego, California. In San Diego, she worked for Prudential Insurance as a clerk. In subsequent years, they welcomed 3 daughters, one in 1956, 1958 and in 1964.

Over the years Loretta, while married to William, they owned at least 2 businesses: Atwood's Candy Store and a Laundromat in San Diego. She was a member of Palisades Presbyterian Church in Allied Gardens. At church, she participated in serving the church community by counting offering, serving as an elder on the elder board, a Woman of the Year by the Women's Ministry, women's circle meetings and serving as co-Skipper of the church's Mariner's group.

Outside of her church activities, she also served as cookie chairman for the Girls Scouts, sewed many cheerleader outfits. She loved to make Christmas goodies and always had a full cookie jar.

In 1987 Loretta retired with William to Payson, Arizona where she and William became members of Community Presbyterian Church also serving on the elder board and various other activities at church. They took many trips around the US visiting family and the sites in the RV they had purchased.

Loretta was widowed in 1989, and remained a widow for 7 years after which she married Wilbert Ost who had 3 grown sons, Gary, Keith, and Gregg. With a love for creating, Loretta created various craft items for sale at the church bazaar and out of her home including tatted lace doilies, cross bookmarks and lovely personal cards with her tatting decorating them. She taught many to tatt.

The last 6 years she was living at Avista Senior Assisted Living in Payson, AZ. She loved red roses, romantic musicals, her family, and her church.

Loretta is survived by her 3 daughters, Debra Bartlett (Terry) of Mpls, MN, Laura Kryger (Dwayne) of Ridgefield WA, and Mary Sodek of Bruceville-Eddy, Tx. 9 Grandchildren: Aaron Kryger, Christopher Bartlett (Elizabeth), Sharon Kryger, Evan Bartlett, Nataliya Nyquist (nee Bartlett), Kaela Bartlett, William Morris (Ana), Kameron Sodek (Barbara), and Kelsey Sodek. 4 Great-grandchildren, 2 Great-great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Leona, her brother Eugene, and 2 husbands, William and Wilbert, a son-in-law Michael Sodek and 2 Grandchildren, Kaitlin and Kainen.