Avis V. Osland

Avis Violet Osland, 100 years 2 months and 19 days of age, made her Heavenly journey Friday, November 10, 2017 from Maranatha Village in Springfield, Missouri. She was born August 22, 1917 in Sisseton, South Dakota, daughter of Ole and Ollie (Eggen) Opsal. All her school days were in the Sisseton Public School from which she graduated in 1935. The following fall she enrolled in North Central Bible Institute in Minneapolis, graduating in May, 1938.
When ten years of age, Avis invited Jesus to be her personal Saviour. She spent lengths of time in Langford and Volin, South Dakota and a year as City Missionary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In the fall of 1944 she received an invitation to come to Jamestown, North Dakota for evangelistic meetings. Other invitations followed and each was scheduled for periods of two or three weeks. In the course of several meetings she met a young pastor, Chester Osland. In October of 1945 Chester returned to San Francisco, California for further Bible studies and Avis continued evangelistic meetings in Minnesota.
Chester and Avis married, September 20, 1946 and together ministered in Sawyer, Lisbon and Northwood, North Dakota. November 1987 they moved to St. Thomas, North Dakota for retirement years. Here they were invited to preach in many denominational churches. Chester went to be with Jesus, July 16, 2003 and Avis still accepted invitations to minister.
In addition to her pulpit ministry, she conducted Kids Crusades throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota. She has spoken in high schools, colleges, funerals, banquets and women's organizations; and was pianist in churches as well. Avis was also a published writer with articles appearing in both secular and religious periodicals.
Avis is survived by a son, Dayton Osland; two daughters, LeAnn (Robert) Bachman and Debbie Sue (Jeffery) Estrada; three grandsons, Jason (Natalie) Bachman, Ryan (Kimberly) Bachman and Erik (Amy) Osland; three granddaughters, Rebecca Osland, Dawnetta (Travis) Cooper and Raegan Estrada; six great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, five sisters, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cavalier Assembly of God Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the St. Thomas Cemetery, St. Thomas, ND.