Orlene Scherr

Orlene Scherr was born May 29, 1975, to Darlene and Orlyn Wanstrom in Bismarck, North Dakota. She passed away December 4, 2024, at the young age of 50 in Mandan, North Dakota.

Orlene’s Visitation will be on Sunday, December 14, from 6–8pm at First Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 15, at 11am. The service will be at First Lutheran Church, 800 N. 7th Street, Bismarck, with lunch to follow.

Orlene was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church. She attended Bismarck schools, and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1993.

In November of 1995, Orlene gave birth to her daughter Miranda Rae. Miranda was her pride and joy. In July of 2002, Orlene married Josh Scherr. They created a life they loved together, with many family vacations and fishing trips. Some of their favorite vacations together were to Mexico, Hawaii, Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel. They took many family trips to South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida. Spending time together as a family was the most important thing for them. They later divorced in 2023, but remained in touch. In 2015, Orlene gained a son-in-law, Ryan Knudson, who was always there to fix her car or help fix the house when problems occurred.

Orlene had two sisters, Barb Hoffman, who she loved to go to concerts and haunted houses with, and Jolene Tognarelli, who she loved to go to rummage sales with and getting their hair done together. Orlene also enjoyed going to the casino with her mother, Darlene, as well as going shopping and running errands together. she enjoyed going out for lunch with her dad, Orlyn, and playing dice.

She worked many cooking jobs, such as being a cook at the Capitol, University of Mary and Bismarck State College. Orlene was a phenomenal cook, where she always made the best homemade food. Some of her families’ favorites were her scalloped potatoes and ham, chicken and dumplings, borsched soup, and milk dumplings. She also worked retail at Sam’s Club, Costco, and most recently at Sierra. Orlene enjoyed any job where she was able to interact and have conversations with people.

In 2016, Orlene welcomed her first granddaughter. It was then she found her true calling in life, to be the very best grandma she could be. She welcomed her second granddaughter in 2018 and her third granddaughter in 2020. Her days were spent with her grandkids, going for walks to the park, playing games, and cooking. She loved having sleepovers with her girls, spending time doing each other’s hair and makeup and baking sweet treats together.

Orlene suffered a stroke, as well as multiple heart attacks, in July of 2022. That lead to multi-organ failure, being in a coma for 3 weeks, where she was given a 1% chance to live. With faith and prayers, she woke up. Not only did she wake up, but she came back and fought. She had to relearn how to do daily tasks, like eating, drinking, and walking. She had to do physical therapy in order to regain her strength to walk, and although she had health issues that continued after her coma, she gave it her all and never gave up. Her faith in our Lord was strong, and she looked to him daily to guide her. She loved to serve communion with her mother, and to watch her grandkids sing in church. She always remembered to bring a special treat for them each Sunday.

Orlene was one who had Christmas in her heart. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she made Christmas so special and magical for her family.

She had the most beautiful tree every single year, stocked with wrapped presents and full stockings beside it. Along with her love of Christmas came her love of snowman, where she has enough to fill each and every room in her home.

Orlene will be greatly missed by her daughter Miranda (Ryan) Knudson; parents, Darlene and Orlyn Wanstrom; sisters, Barbara (Doug) Hoffman, Jolene (Anthony) Tognarelli; Grandchildren, Macy, Myka, and Miley; nieces Chandal, Amanda, and Sondra and Londyn; nephews Charles and Seth; great nieces, Ryliegh and Harper; great nephew, Oakley; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She will join heaven with her grandparents John and Eva Kaiser, Beatrice and Elmer Wanstrom; as well as many aunts and uncles.

Orlene was a gift from God. Someone so loved and full of life. Her generous and kind hearted soul left this world too soon.