Susan Margaret Sletto

Susan Margaret (Haugen) Sletto, 71, died October 20, 2018, at her home in Mandan, ND. Services will be held at 1:30 pm Thursday, October 25, at Charity Lutheran Church, 120 Aspen Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Scott Bauman and Rev. Bob Nordvall officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, October 24, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 pm. Visitation will resume Thursday, one hour prior to the service at the church. Susan was born to Bennie and Marian (Fairweather) Haugen of Souris, ND, on November 20, 1946. She attended elementary school in Souris and later attended Dakota Lutheran Academy in Minot, graduating in 1964. DLA friends held a special place in her heart and she looked forward to reunions every year. Susan attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, earning a B.S. in Elementary Education. After teaching for many years, she went back to school at Minot State College and completed her M.A. in Special Education. While at Concordia College, Susan met Terry Sletto. They dated throughout their college years and were married November 24, 1967. Together they served in Christian ministry in Wisconsin, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Throughout this time, Susan held various positions in public education such as classroom teacher, special education instructor, administrator, and at the end of her career, she enjoyed traveling the state of South Dakota to be a resource to teachers. In retirement, Terry and Susan moved to Mandan, ND, where they celebrated 50 years of married life. Susan’s faith in a loving God shone through in how she loved others. As a devoted wife, she joyfully embarked on all of life’s adventures at her husband’s side. As a dedicated mother, she gave her children a stable foundation to flourish in their journeys. As a doting grandmother, she took great pleasure in each of her grandchildren, considering them all treasured blessings. As a tenderhearted friend, she authentically connected with people wherever she was. Her love for family and friends was evidenced by the visits, cards, and prayers she received in her last weeks. Susan participated in and led many Bible studies over the years. Bible studies gave her immense joy and an opportunity to develop many close and dear friends. She also loved hosting tea parties, luncheons, and open houses. She liked to say that in her 60’s she finally learned how to drink coffee and enjoyed meeting friends for a coconut mocha. Susan found time to enjoy quilting, sewing, singing, baking (the best lefsa!), and gardening. In retirement she and Terry immensely enjoyed their time in Arizona. Susan is survived by her husband, Terry, Mandan; their three children, Trent (Tonya), Jamestown, Siri (Jeremiah Penn), Bismarck, and Solveig (Scott Newberg), Willmar, MN; and ten grandchildren, Ben and Sara Sletto, Signe, Josiah, Micah, and Kari Penn, Soren, Kinley, Britta, and Jorgen Newberg; three sisters, Priscilla (Mylo) Wattenford, Manhattan, KS, Dorothy (Harvey) Klitzke, Bella Vista, AR, and Cynthia (Mark) Resner, Mott, ND; several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Russell (Sharon) and Blaine (Margo). Memorials may be directed to the Dakota Lutheran Academy Scholarship Fund, Charity Lutheran Church, or the University of Jamestown.