Orva Adeline Steffarud, 91

Orva Adeline Steffarud, 91, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at the Brendan House in Kalispell.

She was born on July 20, 1919, to Paul and Bertina (Brovick) Steffarud in Galesburg, N.D.

She attended the Galesburg schools, where she was known as a scholar and athlete. After graduation, she attended Moorhead State Teachers College in Moorhead, Minn. Her first introduction to teaching began in a one-room schoolhouse, where she taught grades one through eight.

After the untimely death of her father, Orva and her mother moved to Whitefish to be near an aunt and uncle; this would be their first and last move. She first taught junior high math and girls P.E.; she would then go on to teach fifth and sixth grades and later became the principal of the department.

Orva left Central School in 1981 to take the position of principal, where she remained until her retirement in 1985.

With all the honors and recognition Orva received, she always said the most important thing she ever did was taking in two young boys, and she raised them as her own. These young boys did not disappoint Orva or her mother. They went on to have distinguished careers in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. They married and raised wonderful families of their own. She always has and always will be known as “Grandma Orva” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1959, Orva was given the honor of First Lady of Whitefish. She was chosen for her dedication to the field of education and her tireless efforts to promote organized activities for the youth outside the classroom.

She was a dedicated volunteer and leader in the community. Over the years she has held many offices on both the local and state level. She was a member of Sons of Norway, Delta Kappa Gamma, Community Concert, Retired Teachers, and was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church.

She served as superintendent and senior league advisor of the senior youth department at the church. One of the great highlights of her life was when she chaperoned 17 leaguers to the youth convention in San Francisco in 1955.

She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Robert and Keiko Brovick of Chula Vista, Calif., and Dennis and Frankie Johnson of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Peter and Shelley Johnson of Fort Carson, Colo., Patrick and Kellie Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, Eugene Brovick, Gloria and Dennis Davies, all of Chula Vista, Calif., and Ed Brovick of Seattle; 13 great-grandchildren; and cousins, Mardel Sievers of Fargo, N.D., and Myron Bejelverud of Galesburg.

A memorial service will be held to honor Orva’s life at 11 a.m. on March 24 at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish.

Arrangements are entrusted to Austin Funeral Home.