Ora Marie Stewart

Ora Marie Stewart, 82, of Grafton passed away Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. Ora Marie Sprouse was born September 14, 1927 in Monango, ND, daughter of Edith (Hafey) and Don Sprouse. She attended school in Bullhead, SD and Shields, ND, before graduating from high school in McLaughlin SD in 1944. Ora Marie met and married Charles Stewart in Ellendale, ND on June 1, 1946 while attending college. The couple lived in Mott, ND and Drayton, ND before settling in Grafton in 1957. She earned her Bachelor degree in Natural Science, with a minor in English, from Ellendale State Teacher's College and her Masters degree in Library Science from UND. Except for a brief teaching job, she was a stay at home mom until her children were all in school, when she began working for the Northeast Dakota Bookmobile Library in 1965 and became director of the Carnegie Regional Library in 1972 retiring twenty years later in 1992. Over the years she developed a love for theater, history, doll and antique collecting. She directed various productions for 24 years, including the centennial pageants of the city of Grafton 1982 and the state of North Dakota 1989. She held the office of president in the state Library Association, Heritage Doll Club for 16 years, LaBoheme Club and the first female to preside over the Walsh county Historical Society. She has served on the state Humanities and Public Issues Board, the Public Radio Board, and the Advisory Board to the Chester Fritz Auditorium. In 1984 she was chosen to appear in "Who's Who in North Dakota." She has 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, her car license plate reads "LUVRPETS" reflecting her affection for her two Yorkshire terriers and one Senegal parrot. She is survived by her husband Charles, one sister Donna (Sprouse) Sherwood, Mobridge SD and children Terry Burns, St. Thomas; Chuck Stewart, Grafton; Aprill (Steven) Hastings, Mayville; Rock (Kris) Stewart, Grafton; Amy Jo (David) Paukert, Michigan; and Reed Stewart, Bismarck. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother. The service is Friday April 9, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Grafton. Visitation is one hour before the service at the church.