CAROL J. RUD

Carol Jean (Stensland) Rud, age 88, formerly of New Rockford and Sheyenne, ND, passed away peacefully Saturday March 7, 2026 at Griggs County Care Center in Cooperstown, ND with her daughters by her side.

Carol was born at Chase Lake, rural Woodworth, ND to Jens and Clara (Struxness) Stensland on July 30, 1937. The family lived in the Woodworth and Carrington areas before moving to Sheyenne in 1952. It was while working at Logan’s Café in Sheyenne that Carol met Harold Rud. They were married June 23, 1955 at First Lutheran Church in Sheyenne and made their home on the farm near Hendrickson Park until moving to New Rockford in 1993. Carol was a farm wife and stay at home mom until her daughters were in school after which she worked at several local businesses before starting her tenure as secretary at Farmer’s Union Insurance in New Rockford, where she worked for 31 years, retiring in 2002.

As a young girl Carol found her love of country music, she spent many hours on horseback singing, listening to the radio and writing down the words to songs. Carol entered many talent shows and enjoyed entertaining audiences with her singing, yodeling and guitar playing. After several years on her own she teamed up with Ida Phyllis Wahlstrom and they were known as the “Sheyenne Country Girls” entertaining in the area for over 40 years together; even making a cassette tape of their music.

Carol had many other hobbies besides country music; she enjoyed crafting, quilting, letter writing and photography. She also enjoyed helping Harold with his wood craft projects doing the painting. They enjoyed taking their creations to craft shows throughout the area. Carol was also very involved with Grandfield Lutheran Church, holding many different offices throughout the years as well as leading the service when the Pastor was unavailable.

Cooking and baking were also hobbies of Carol’s. Her grandkids remember all the late night snacks of popcorn and chocolate malts when they stayed overnight. Whenever she would come to visit her grandkids, she would make sure to bring with their favorite bars or cookies. She always had bars and cookies ready for anyone who might happen to stop by for coffee. When Harold and Carol moved to Binford to be closer to their girls and families, they had daily coffee visits with any family members who stopped in. Spending time with family was one of Carol’s greatest joys.

Carol will be greatly missed by her daughters LaRae (Dave) Iverson, Joni (Bob) Barclay and Barb (Dan) Gilbertson; Grandchildren Ciara (Ben) Clark, Brandon (Naomi) Iverson, Travis (Sarah Hegvik) Barclay, Josh Barclay, Derek Barclay, Brittany (Shawn Pittenger) Barclay, Zach Gilbertson, Jesse (Leanna Haugen) Gilbertson; Great Grandchildren Sherman Geer, Jacob, Carli & Josie Clark, Landon Hohertz, Lachlan, Lyla & Luna Iverson, Makenzie, Ethan, Brooklyn, Oakland Bentley & Sky Barclay, Jaxon, Brynlee, & Rylynn Pittenger and brothers Paul and Ronald Stensland along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death are Harold, her loving husband of 57 years, her parents, sister and brother-in-law Lillian and Edward Pederson, sister-in-law Loretta Stensland, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Peder and Gladys Tveito and Norris and Gloria Rud.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 10:30 am in the Grandview Lutheran Church, rural Sheyenne, ND, visitation will be one hour before.