Avis Odegaard Thief River Falls, MN age 87 died peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Good Samaritan in Warren, MN. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 1, 2015 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 prayer service on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM on Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Avis Marie Nygaard was born on October 8, 1927 in Granite Falls, MN the daughter of Lars and Gina (Lauve) Nygaard. She grew up in Granite Falls with one sister, Myrtle. She graduated from high school and attended two years at the Minneapolis Business College. On December 7, 1947, Avis was united in marriage to Gerald Odegaard at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, MN. They resided in Granite Falls until moving to Thief River Falls in 1967 and raised four children, Larry, Chuck, Patti and Ann; along with a multitude of pets. Avis enjoyed being home with the children when they were growing and in 1971 began working at Arctic Cat in the print shop. She also worked in the Registration Department at Arctic Cat until 1981 when she and Jerry purchased Johnnies Café. Avis managed the café and did all of the bookwork along with the cooking and baking. Avis later went on to work at Discovery Place where she did the meal plans and cooking. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and very active with the American Legion Auxiliary serving as Unit President and various offices and committees. She was also an Honorary Life Member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #117. Avis was also a chapter member of the Thief River Falls Lioness Club. Avis enjoyed crocheting, sewing, camping, playing cards and was an avid reader. She and Jerry enjoyed traveling together throughout the United States attending many American Legion functions and also visiting family and friends in Texas and Arizona. For the last 14 years, Avis has battled with Alzheimer's disease. She was able to stay at home with the help of her wonderful, faithful husband, Jerry until moving to the Good Samaritan Home in Warren, MN on August 30, 2010. Avis was content and well taken care of by the caring staff of Good Sam. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Jerry of Thief River Falls; children, Larry (Marlene) Odegaard of Orlando, FL, Chuck (Sharon) Odegaard and Ann (Rocky) Joppru son-in-law, Paul (Marie) Smeby all of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Sean, Shane (Meghan) and Skye Odegaard, Shawn (Kelly) Qualley, Lisa (Tim) Sedlacek, Kristen (Matt) Bjerklie, Sarah (fiancé, Travis) Smeby, Kelly (fiance, Linell) Smeby, Keaton and Kris Joppru; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Sam, Wyatt, Trevor, Jason, Brianna, Nathan, Noah, Kia, Cali, Liza, Jersey, Jazmyne, Jackson, and Zane, Toni, Hope, Andrea, and Marlene; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Wick and Billie June Odegaard; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Patti in 2003; granddaughter, Lacy Ann Joppru; step-grandson, Chad Qualley; parents; sister, Myrtle (Norman) Knutson; brothers-in-law, David Odegaard and Donald Wick.