Frank Osterdal

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Osterdal, our beloved husband, Dad, Grandad and Great-Grandad, who passed away on Friday, April 10th, 2026.

Frank was born in Logstrup, Denmark on September 17th, 1939 to Haakon & Gerda Osterdal. After completing his apprenticeship as a maskinarbejder (all manner of metal work including machining, welding and blacksmithing) and his mandatory military service in the Danish Air Force, he married his first wife Minna Rasmussen. Frank spent a memorable stint as facility maintainer on a DEW Line site in Greenland. Frank and Minna shared adventures by moving to Australia, back to Denmark and then to Calgary and De Winton. Frank built his Machining and Welding business in De Winton and Okotoks and took particular pride in serving farmers in the region.

Later, Frank took a position at the Grand Cache Institution where he met his wife Karen Henry who was also working there. (They liked the reaction they got when they told people they ‘met in jail’.) Frank and Karen moved to Inuvik then Hay River where Frank was busy with his mobile metal works business and maintaining diesel generators at remote communication towers throughout the north. They finally settled in Didsbury, Alberta to be closer to family, especially grandchildren. Frank will be remembered as a “Great Dane!”, to all that knew him. He was a jokester, kind, with a gift to talk to anyone. His smiling eyes and sometimes bark, which was much bigger than his bite, will be missed by all.

Frank is lovingly remembered by his wife, Karen Henry; children, Janni McCoy, Rob Osterdal (Deanna) and son-in-law Jeff Johns; grandchildren, Clayton McCoy (Evangeline), Logan McCoy (Kayla), Kayla Dahl (Zane); Alina, Brayden (Chandra) and Carsen (Sam) Johns; Calvin Osterdal (Sandra), Hayden Osterdal (Robyn) and Nathan Osterdal; nephew, Haakon (Ingela); great-grandchildren; family in Denmark and friends he made everywhere he lived. Frank had special connections with nieces and nephews Astrid, Jennifer, Ella, Jamie and Micah.He was pre-deceased by his loving daughter Karin Johns, parents, sister Gitte and niece Marianne.

A Memorial Service will be held at Elks Lodge #514, Didsbury, AB on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM.