Mary Beth Ostlund-Wood “Bear”
Mary Beth Ostlund-Wood “Bear” was born on January 31, 1952, in Webster City, IA, to Mary Belle and Robert Q. Ostlund. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1970, then attended the University of Iowa. Beth went on to have many adventures, living in Houston, Texas; Dublin, Ireland; and San Francisco, California, to name a few. She had her “precious” daughter, Caitlin Linda, in 1989, in San Francisco. The Loma Prieta earthquake of ’89 soon shook her to move back to Iowa, where she graduated from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, in 1995. Beth and Caitlin had one more adventure out East, stopping in Vermont and Maine while she attended Vermont Law and Graduate School, before making their way back to Webster City, Iowa, where she would raise her daughter until 2007. Beth was united in marriage to Ronald Wood in 2013 and lived in Renwick, Iowa, with him until Ron succumbed to his battle with cancer in 2015. Beth resided in Solon, Iowa, and then made her way to La Crosse, WI, where she lived until she passed on November 23, 2024, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse after a battle with multiple myeloma.
Beth was an avid reader, art lover, traveler and learner. Beth was always creating something beautiful and unique, whether it be writing, gardening, or through any kind of art. She stood firm in her beliefs and would always stick up for someone in a crowd of strangers. She is described by ones who knew and loved her as a force to be reckoned with, and a “one-of-a-kind” gal. Beth was a fierce, strong, and loving mother, raising her daughter to be the same. Caitlin and her grandson Leo were the lights of her life.
Beth is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Belle and Robert Ostlund, brother Mike Ostlund, nephews Aaron and Alex Ostlund, cousins Randy Jones and Bill Ostlund.
She is survived by her daughter Caitlin (Zoe) and her grandson, Leo, her brothers Chris (Sheryl) Ostlund and David Ostlund, her sister Linda (Fred) Lipton, sister-in-law Kerry Ostlund; nephews Nathan, Mitch (Carie) and Shawn (Christie) and nieces, Kate (Hannah) and Callie (Toni) as well as many great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at the Webster City Links in Webster City, IA, on December 21, 2024, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local library or to the American Cancer Society.