Mary J. Rostberg

Mary Jane Rostberg (Nesland), 97, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Vancouver, Washington. Born April 1, 1928, to Carmel and Knute Nesland, she was a light to so many over the course of her fulfilling life; a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. But that only covers her lineage-others knew her as a card-playing companion, a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, a baker extraordinaire (especially of cinnamon rolls, rhubarb pie, and krumkake), a listening ear, and most of all, a friend. Part of Mary Jane's heart belonged to North Dakota. The oldest of three children, she and her brothers were raised in McVille, where they enjoyed decades of lively family dinners and holidays with relatives from all over the state. After high school, she received her teaching certificate and taught grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse there during World War II. The other part belonged to Marvin Rostberg, her beloved husband of 46 years. They met in McVille shortly after Marvin finished his enlistment with the United States Army. Mary Jane was out with friends after a dance one evening and ran into Marvin with a car full of his buddies. That was their first meeting, and the rest is history! They began dating shortly after, then went on to get married in 1949. From McVille, they moved to Fargo and lived in student veteran housing while Marvin completed his education at North Dakota State University. Next, they moved to Larimore, where their two children (Jeffery and Cathlyn) were born in 1950 and 1954. Marvin became a pesticide salesman and Mary Jane worked as a bank teller, as they raised their family. They continued to reside in Larimore part time until 1993, spending time between the local feed store they bought and ran in their early "retirement" and the family cabin at Golden Lake. Once fully retired, they became snowbirds in southern Texas for several years. In 1993, they relocated to the Pacific Northwest in Vancouver, Washington, where Marvin sadly left this world and his sweetheart in 1995. They also experienced the unexpected, heartbreaking loss of their son five years earlier in 1990. Mary Jane had missed them both dearly every day since. As the doting grandma that she was, Mary Jane dedicated the later portion of her life to her grandchildren, often traveling between Idaho and Washington to be as present as possible for all of them. Following Marvin's death, she decided to buy the house next door to Cathy to support her in raising her own two children. What a gift it was to Tanner and McKenna, to grow up with their grandma by their side. And later, an even greater gift that she got to know six great grandchildren before her passing, ranging in ages between 1-24 years old. Mary Jane is survived by her daughter, Cathy; daughter-in-law, Bobby (husband, Norm); sister- in-law, Pam; nieces Kendra (partner, June) Belinda (husband, Rick); Nancy (husband, Dan); Laural (husband, Gene), Gerry Lee (husband, Ivan); Mary Ann (husband, Charlie); Evie Rae; nephews Knute; Derek (wife, Selene); Joe; Graydon (wife, Sharon); grandchildren Katie (partner,Justin), Gabe, Tanner (partner, Anna), McKenna (husband, Jon); and great grandchildren Hunter, Ryder, Mateo, Mya, Gideon, and Liam-all of whom she loved deeply. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; son, Jeff; brothers, Kenneth and Dennis; and parents, Carmel and Knute. A small celebration of life will be held for close family and friends at a later date this summer. In lieu of flowers, pick up the phone and call a loved one, watch an episode of Jeopardy, or finish that crossword puzzle you've had lying around, in her memory. Here are some of the famous Mary Jane catch phrases her family fondly remembers her by:"Uff da!""You betcha.""How the heck are ya?""Well, piddly-doo.""Son of a gun!""It's not Christmas without lutefisk.""Jeepers!"

Mary J. Rostberg

April 1, 1928 - April 24, 2025