Luann Burtch

Sawyer

Luann May Burtch, 69, Sawyer, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 24, 2025 in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Luann May Burtch (Oustad) was born to Harlan Russel Oustad and Marlyn Janice Elvestad on April 11, 1956. Luann, the oldest of four children took on the role of babysitter and house cleaner at a young age due to her parents working out of the home. She has said several times that Gary, Linda, and Marcia were her first babies. Much to Luann’s dismay she was a child of a gypsy, and they moved several times in her youth. When her parents finally settled into a small house on Hiawatha which Luann describes as the house she grew up in. It was running around on Hiawatha and Arbor Avenue that Luann made many young friends. It was Kathy Webster’s cousin that would change her life forever. Joyce Webster introduced Tim Burtch to Luann at the North Dakota State Fair.

For Tim it was love at first sight, for Luann it was pretty cool Tim had a car. Eventually that summer turned into a lifetime of love and family. Luann had her first of three children at seventeen. Her first child, Blaine was born on February 3rd, 1974. Her second child, Buffie was born on November 7th 1975. Although not a perfect or easy life, being a young parents Tim and Luann always made it work. Whether it was living with Luann’s grandma Ida in a small trailer or Luann learning what it was like to live on a ranch, being a ranch hand or moving to Colorado for an exciting excursion in construction; They did it together! Luann yearned deeply for a home and after returning to Minot and hopping around in apartments and trailers they had their third child named Bethany on April 20th 1980. Luann was ready to settle down in her own home. They moved to their forever home in Sawyer in 1984, with Luann’s parents practically in the back yard in the safe quiet town.

Luann lost her father Harlan on January 6, 1985. It was then that she began to care for her mother until her passing on December 31, 2012. Luann continued the role of caregiver for her mother-in-law Evelyn Webster-Ballweber until her passing on April 1, 2023.

Luann made many friends as a waitress at Behms/ Country Kitchen, working there for 24 years. She moved on to Trinity Health working in the cafeteria as a cashier, where she continued to make many more friends.

Luann would spend many hours baking and cooking with all of her grandchildren that she loved so deeply. Luann and Tim were blessed with 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren that they loved more than anything else in this world. Watching them succeed in their lives and continue her legacy of love for their family was a great joy to them as they walk this world without her.

Luann is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Timothy Burtch; children Blaine (Jodi) Burtch, Buffie (Neil) Brown and Bethany (Roger) Kraft; grandchildren Jessica, Tim, Kayla, Kendra, Tyler, Katie, Elisabeth, Emily and Wylie; great grandchildren Mara Jade, Lillyanna, Ellie, Kayleb, Cobaine, Hattie and Harper; siblings Gary (Christine) Oustad, California, Linda (Steve) Johnson, Minot and Marcia (Reed) Crill, Sacramento, CA, numerous nieces and nephews and last but not least her five fur babies.

Luann was preceded in death by her parents.

Celebration of Luann’s Life: Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Sawyer Senior Citizens Center, Sawyer, ND.

Visitation/Booksigning: Friday, May 30, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue.

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 27, 2025.