Freda Lucille Steensland was born June 21, 1925, on the family farm just north of Huxley and passed away March 3, 2022 under the care of Suncrest Hospice at Accura Healthcare Center. She was the youngest of ten children born to Sam and Petra (Handeland) Steensland.

Freda attended school in Huxley, graduating in 1943 as a star basketball player. She later went on to work at Spurgeon's in Boone. Freda met Thomas Osting shortly before he shipped out to the Philippines for his two-year stint with the Army of World War II. After Tom returned home in 1944, he went back to work for Sam on the farm. Tom and Freda were married July 27, 1946, and they had four children: Diana, Gary, Becki and Betty. They made their home in Kelley and Huxley before the love of of Freda's life passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 1975.

While living in Kelley, Freda became the "lunch lady" at the elementary school and thus her career in food service began After Tom passed away, Freda went to work for Wallace/Wilson Dining Room at ISU. Her fondest memories were preparing numerous meals for Johnny Orr's basketball teams and making friends with the students. Freda was a great cook and loved to share her creations with everyone, especially her family and the Kelley coffee ladies. She is remembered by her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren for her kumla (she puts ham in the center of the dumpling), her whipped potatoes and her kringla all made with lots of love, butter and whipping cream.

Freda is survived by her four children, Diana (Alan) Schwendinger, Gary (Marsha) Osting, Becki (Mike) Dodson, and Betty (Doyle) Kepley; her grandchildren, Craig (Jennifer) Fjelland, Tom Kepley, Brad (Darice) Sydnes, Deanna (BJ) Thomas, Elizabeth (Ben) Matthis, Tasha (Mike) Carson, Dawn Marie Kepley, and Kathy Boon; her 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; one sister-in-law Avis Steensland and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; her brothers, Ernest (Geneva), Tilman (Dorothy), Sherman (Eunita), Sanford, Alvin (Mary) and Everett; her sisters, Hilda (Bernis) Myers, Gladys (Albert) Rorabaugh and Selma (Milford) Thompson; one great grandson; 4 nephews and 2 nieces.

Church services for Freda will be held March 11, 2022 at Fjeldberg Lutheran Church in Huxley at 10 AM with visitation one hour prior to the service and interment at the Fjeldberg Cemetery south of Huxley.
Contributor: Cemeterysearcher