Sylvia Marie Fatland

Sylvia Marie (Nygaard) Fatland, 80, went to be with her Savior after passing away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo. Sylvia was born on September 22, 1935, to Joseph and Mabel (Nygaard) Nygaard in Noonan, ND. She grew up on a farm in Upland Township near Wildrose, ND. Her elementary schooling was in a one-room schoolhouse north of the farm, and she graduated from high school in Crosby, ND. After high school, Sylvia went on to attend NDSCS in Wahpeton to become a LPN. While at NDSCS, she met the love of her life, Dean Fatland. Dean and Sylvia were married on September 25, 1955, at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Crosby, ND. From this marriage they had three wonderful daughters.

Sylvia’s greatest passion was her family. She was a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dearly loved daughter, sister, and aunt. In her early years of motherhood, she was a devoted stay-at-home Mom caring for her daughters. Once her youngest daughter was in school, she worked as a school cafeteria worker at Fargo South High School, South Elementary, West Fargo, and NDSU. For several years, she was a teacher’s aide at Grace Lutheran School, Fargo.

In addition to her family, her spiritual life was very important to her as she dedicated her time to being a Sunday School teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Concordia Lutheran Church, Walcott Lutheran Church, and St. Paul’s Free Lutheran Church. In addition to teaching the children of the church, she served as church secretary and was very active with the Ladies Aid, Circle, and WMS groups. In her retirement years, she enjoyed spending time quilting with the women’s quilting groups at Walcott Lutheran and St. Paul’s Free Lutheran making many quilts that were sent for use at missionaries in foreign countries. For the last 38 years, she was an active member of St. Paul’s Free Lutheran.

Sylvia and Dean loved to spend time with their family and friends, and traveling across the United States and also Norway. Through their 60 years of marriage, they formed a strong and loving bond taking care of each other. They held hands in church and while watching TV. Besides traveling, Sylvia loved to play games with her family and special friends in Walcott, West Fargo, and Fargo. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Walcott.

Sylvia is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 60 years, Dean; two daughters, Sandra (Wayne) Meyer, Moorhead, MN and Loree (Jerry) Grudem, Park Rapids, MN; two grandsons, Jeremy (Kristen Brien) Meyer and Jason Meyer; one great-grandson, Hudson Meyer; two sisters, Esther Erickson, and Marilyn (Larry DeJardine) Binde; four sisters-in-law, Norma Nygaard, Darlene (Arnold) Hanson, Martha Fatland, and Edwaina Fatland; brother-in-law, Darlan (Mary) Fatland; Cindy Erickson and many special nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; her youngest daughter, Jan Marie; brother, Milton Nygaard; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy (LeRoy) Rensvold; sister and brother-in-law, Marion (Denis) Toppen; brothers-in-law, Eskel Erickson, LaVerne Binde, Duane Fatland, Darwin Fatland, and Dennis Fatland; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald (Frances) Fatland; former sister-in-law, Barbara Miller; nephew, Robert Nygaard; two nieces, Darlene Binde and Angela Hanson; and great-niece, Chantel Sagaser.