Orlando Rollefstad

Williston

Orlando K. Rollefstad, age 93 of Williston, ND and formerly of Hoople, ND passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at CHI St. Alexius Hospital in Williston, ND. He is now free from all the pain and mobility problems that troubled him in his later years. Due to declining health, he moved to Bethel Lutheran Nursing home in October of 2023.

Orlando was born on April 27, 1930 to Kittel B. and Olga (Haug) Rollefstad. He was the youngest of five children. He was raised on the family farm and attended several country schools. Orlando’s mother passed away unexpectedly when he was 18. He continued to live on the farm and help his father with the farming and raising cattle and horses.

Some years later he met Janice R. Magnusson and they were married on Aug. 18, 1963 at Mountain, ND. They had one son, Timothy born in 1965. They settled at Orlando’s farm and he continued farming and ranching throughout the years, enjoyed driving thru the country, going to the Auction Barn and visiting family, friends and neighbors. His father passed away in Aug. 1974. Janice passed away from cancer in May 1987. He retired from farming in 1988 and rented out his farmland and decided he needed to find a new career. After that Timothy moved to Williston. He later passed away in July 1994 in the Williston hospital.

Orlando was a member of the Hvideso Lutheran Church of rural Hoople, just down the road from his farm. He was a member of various organizations there in the Edinburg and Hoople area.

After Janice’s death and true to his nature, he traveled out to CA to visit his brothers and decided he needed to find something new to do.

He decided to renew an old friendship he had years ago and come out west to the Bakken and begin a second career – this time – buying real estate and fixing up houses and apartment buildings and renting them out in Williston and Williams County. He loved carpenter work, painting, planting flowers and working in the yards. Orlando married Roberta (Norby) Sprenger on June 9, 1988 in Grafton, ND. Roberta had one son Jimmy Lee Sprenger that he welcomed as his own. Orlando decided to rent out his farm and the farmland and sell his cattle and come west to live in Williston and check on the farm from time to time.

He then founded O&R Rentals in Williston in 1989 and has had a very successful career of it ever since. Roberta worked right along beside him doing whatever needed to be done. He was a landlord and owned many rental properties. He has touched the lives of many people through the rentals. He built a shop north of Williston where he could go and repair things, do woodworking and use for storage.

He enjoyed helping Jimmy, participating in his school activities and attending many special events over the years. Also being there for him all these years during his sickness and sharing the holidays with family wherever we were. Now he was able to go traveling and enjoyed going on trips to Medora, California, Arizona, Branson, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia and many other places.

He had a fondness for collecting antiques, coins, guns, glassware, cement statues and many other old things and went to many sales. In early years, he loved playing cards, rummy, whist and an occasional trip to the casinos, and listening to country music, and going out for coffee when he was in good health. He always said we were what kept him going. He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston. Orlando will always be admired for his dedication, devotion and love for his family. He was one in a million and will be greatly missed by all. Yes, Orlando, Mom will take care of everything. We’ll see you later.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Roberta; stepson, James Sprenger; sister-in-law, Phyllis Jackson; many Norby family relatives; many nieces; nephews; cousins; and special friend, Pat Murphy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Kittel B. and Olga Rollefstad; his first wife, Janice; son, Timothy; brothers and their wives, Bennie (Lorraine) Rollefstad, Orven (Ollie) Rollefstad, Leonard (Ann) Rollefstad, and Roy Rollefstad; his first wife’s parents, Bill and Mable Magnusson; brother-in-law, Chuck Jackson; and Roberta’s parents, Eddie and Alma Norby.

The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff at CHI St. Alexius Hospital and all the nurses and all caregivers at Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home for your compassionate care. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all our family and friends. Special thanks to Dr. Mark Olson and Dr. Joshi, nurses, staff and other doctors who cared for him for many years.

Additional gratitude to the staff at Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home for your caring support and guidance.

Should you choose to give a Memorial, please consider giving to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1821 9th Ave. West, Williston, ND 58801 or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Service for Orlando will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:00 am at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston, ND. Pastor Steve Anderson will officiate. Orlando will be laid to rest at the Good Hope Cemetery in Keene, ND. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston, ND. A Family Service, open to the public, to follow at 5:00 pm.

The Funeral Service will be livestreamed, you can view Orlando’s service directly on his obituary page on our website www.fulkersons.com

Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston is assisting the family. Condolences may be left on our Funeral Home website at www.fulkersons.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 1, 2024.