1957
Laurel
2016
Laurel Gard
November 6, 1957 — October 31, 2016
Laurel Gard, 58, of Fergus Falls died Monday, October 31, 2016, at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.
Laurel Suzanne White was born on November 6, 1957 in Des Moines, IA, the daughter of Clifford and Marilyn (Milner) White. Laurel grew up in Pella, Iowa, and was a very bright student, active as well in track, basketball, and music. She graduated from Pella High School and was class Salutatorian. Laurel went on to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Religion. While attending St. Olaf, Laurel took a trip to Israel and continued with athletics and music.
After graduating from St. Olaf, she took a job as activities director at Ebenezer Nursing Home in Minneapolis, which is where she met her future husband, Thomas Gard, in 1982. On June 11, 1983, Laurel and Tom were married at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, MN, and they were blessed with three children.
In 1983, Laurel and Tom relocated to Superior, Wisconsin, for six years, where Tom served as pastor. In 1989, the family moved to Watertown, SD, to help develop a new church, and later to Stuart, Nebraska; Red Oak, Iowa; eventually being called to Fergus Falls, MN, to Federated Church and most recently First United Church of Christ. Laurel worked as an admissions secretary at the University of Wisconsin – Superior and later worked for an insurance agency in Stuart, Nebraska. In 1994, Laurel was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which led to her focusing on MS support groups and organizations.
Laurel was proud to have had the ability to teach all three of her children how to play the piano. She was involved in home Bible studies, taught Sunday School, led church youth groups, played piano at church, and was involved in exercise and support groups for people with MS. Laurel had an excellent memory and studied French and classical Greek.
Laurel will be remembered for her winning smile and for her genuine desire to get to know people.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Gard, of Fergus Falls; three children, Katie Gard and Jennifer (Shang) Sengla, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Suzi (Beckett) Love of Minneapolis; one grandchild on the way, who will be named after Laurel; a sister, Holly (Jeff) Kooistra of Gretna, Nebraska; a brother, John (Marue) White of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and her mother, Marilyn White of Des Moines, IA. Laurel was preceded in death by her father, Clifford.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Thursday, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and one hour prior to services at the funeral home
Funeral Service: 1 PM Friday, November 4, 2016 at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Online Guestbook: GlendeNilson.com
Laurel's Memorial Folder
Laurel Suzanne White was born on November 6, 1957 in Des Moines, IA, the daughter of Clifford and Marilyn (Milner) White. Laurel grew up in Pella, Iowa, and was a very bright student, active as well in track, basketball, and music. She graduated from Pella High School and was class Salutatorian. Laurel went on to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Religion. While attending St. Olaf, Laurel took a trip to Israel and continued with athletics and music.
After graduating from St. Olaf, she took a job as activities director at Ebenezer Nursing Home in Minneapolis, which is where she met her future husband, Thomas Gard, in 1982. On June 11, 1983, Laurel and Tom were married at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, MN, and they were blessed with three children.
In 1983, Laurel and Tom relocated to Superior, Wisconsin, for six years, where Tom served as pastor. In 1989, the family moved to Watertown, SD, to help develop a new church, and later to Stuart, Nebraska; Red Oak, Iowa; eventually being called to Fergus Falls, MN, to Federated Church and most recently First United Church of Christ. Laurel worked as an admissions secretary at the University of Wisconsin – Superior and later worked for an insurance agency in Stuart, Nebraska. In 1994, Laurel was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which led to her focusing on MS support groups and organizations.
Laurel was proud to have had the ability to teach all three of her children how to play the piano. She was involved in home Bible studies, taught Sunday School, led church youth groups, played piano at church, and was involved in exercise and support groups for people with MS. Laurel had an excellent memory and studied French and classical Greek.
Laurel will be remembered for her winning smile and for her genuine desire to get to know people.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Gard, of Fergus Falls; three children, Katie Gard and Jennifer (Shang) Sengla, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Suzi (Beckett) Love of Minneapolis; one grandchild on the way, who will be named after Laurel; a sister, Holly (Jeff) Kooistra of Gretna, Nebraska; a brother, John (Marue) White of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and her mother, Marilyn White of Des Moines, IA. Laurel was preceded in death by her father, Clifford.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Thursday, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and one hour prior to services at the funeral home
Funeral Service: 1 PM Friday, November 4, 2016 at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Online Guestbook: GlendeNilson.com
Laurel's Memorial Folder
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