Alice Mabel Overgaard was born on Sept. 22, 1927, to Andrew and Katrine (Barstad) Tofteland on the family farm in Clinton Township, Rock County, Minnesota. She was baptized Nov. 28, 1927, and confirmed July 6, 1941, both at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Luverne. She attended Pleasantview Country School District 57 through eighth grade. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1945.
Mabel went to work at the Rock County Register of Deeds office for two years before taking a position with Tri-State Insurance Company in 1947 doing secretarial work. In September of 1948, she went on an adventure to California with her friend Arlene Gradert Thompson and found work with Standard Oil Company and Connecticut Life Insurance. In May 1949, she came back to Luverne and Tri-State Insurance Company working as a punch operator.
On February 18, 1951, Mabel was united in marriage to Gordon Overgaard at Our Savior Lutheran Church, which joined with Emmanuel Lutheran Church to form Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. They settled into life together on the farm near Kanaranzi, Minnesota. Mabel was a homemaker and blessed with five children, a bookkeeper for Dekalb Seed, and enjoyed tending a large garden each year. In 2001, Gordon passed away. Mabel lived in her home in Luverne until the age of 96. In 2024, Mabel moved to Poplar Creek Estates in town.
Mabel was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. She was very active in church as a Sunday school teacher and GLCW. Mabel’s Christian faith was very important to her. Mabel served as a board member at the Tuff Home for six years, serving two years as president. She was the last surviving member of the “Young Couples Club”, a special group organized in the 1950s which met together regularly in different homes. Mabel enjoyed traveling and visited most of the states within the United States. She made two trips to Canada and spent four months in Norway to visit relatives. Mabel filled the role of caregiver beautifully and did so throughout her life. She enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and would often play card games and family board games with them.
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, Mabel passed away at the Sanford Luverne Hospital at the age of 98 years, two months and four days.
Mabel is lovingly remembered by her children, Gary Overgaard (friend, Suanne Ohme) of Magnolia, Minnesota, Marcia (Darrel) Johnsrud of Corcoran, Minnesota, Mark (Amy) Overgaard of Luverne, and Loren (Julie) Overgaard of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, April Kempen, Jody Mettler, Rachel (Joe) Lahti, Cory Johnsrud (girlfriend, Kayli Torres), Kirsten (Hayden) Skroch, Matthew Overgaard (girlfriend, Tayla Peterson), and Nicholas (Laiken) Overgaard; one step-grandchild, Brittany (Nicholas) Moe; five great-grandchildren, Brita Lahti, Elin Lahti, Colin Leuthold, Aiden Kempen, and Ethan Kempen; three step-great-grandchildren, Jack, Josie and Jonah Moe; and siblings, Walter (Ardith) Tofteland, and Naomi Wilson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; son, Glenn Overgaard; brothers, Conrad and Erling Tofteland; parents; and daughter-in-law, Emily Lodine-Overgaard.
