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Ramona Elizabeth Gestland Beloved mother, sister, cousin, aunt and friend. Ramona Elizabeth Gestland, born on August 22, 1953, in Springfield, Missouri to Donald Luther Knaust and Clara Emma Ottelia(Doss) Knaust. Education: Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, Missouri - Graduating June 1971. o Attending Rountree Elementary, Jarrett Junior High and Parkview High School. Concordia University formerly Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska. Graduating June 1975. Master's in Education - Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK. National Teachers Board Certified. Principal Certification from OU. Career: Zion Lutheran School, Independence, Kansas: 1975 - 1981 Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa, Oklahoma: 1981 - 2012 Staff Development including Assistant Principal: 2012 Principal - Skelly Elementary - until final day on earth. Survivors: Children: Kathryn Lourie Gestland& Jacob Scott Gestland. Sisters: Karen Louise Knaust Stearns Miller o Stephanie Renee Howell Stearns Mitchell and husband Charles (Bear) Mitchell& sons Tyler Lee Howell, Wyatt Hunter Mitchell, Logan William Mitchell o Phillip Eugene Miller Heidi Marie Knaust Stubenhofer Walkup &husband Jon Walkup o Matthew Dean Stubenhofer & wife Michelle (Walters) Stubenhofer. o Aaron Mitchell (Mitch) Stubenhofer & wife Lydia(Tate) Stubenhofer & sons Tyson & Barrett (Bear) Stubenhofer. o Meredith Stubenhofer. o Staci Walkup o Sheena Walkup o Stuart Walkup, Addy & Dax o Sara (Walkup) Northcutt& Paul Northcutt and baby Henry Northcuttexpected anytime. Multiple close cousins (Siscos), family & friends Those whom have gone before her: Husband: Doug Gestland Parents: Donald & Clara Knaust Niece: Cara Lynn Stearns Brother in Law: Linden Gregg Stearns Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. Church: Lifetime member of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod by Baptism & Confirmation. Member of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Tulsa, OK. Member church choir. o Former LWML President. Youth Activities: Girl Scout, Camp Fire Summer Camp Counselor, member of Walter League (church youth group) Ambassador for Christ - door to door spreading of the gospel with her sister Karen in St. Louis one summer. Future Teachers of America - high school. Hobbies: Ramona was an avid reader her entire life, loving Agatha Christie novels and James Patterson. She loved sports, especially playing badminton with her father and sisters. She played intramural basketball in college and was a super fan of the Boston Celtics, recently meeting Bill Russell in the hotel she was staying at while attending a teacher's conference. He was over a foot taller than Ramona and he could not believe she remembered him and was glad to take a photo with her. In her final years she became an avid Oklahoma City Thunder fan as well. She loved to travel with her family and friends, and her colleagues to teacher conferences. Ramona was totally committed to education. She dearly loved her teachers first before herself. She followed her mother's dream to be a teacher. When asked, what were her plans for retirement, Ramona replied "retire? what would I do". She enjoyed theater movies with her children and family members. In her final month, she was "kidnapped" by her BFF teacher friends, lovingly known at Team Ramona, for an outing to see the film "The Upside" in her wheelchair. She laughed and cried. Ramona loved cats and many shared her life, most recently Molly and Max. Molly stayed by her side to the end providing comfort and peace. She kept her wit throughout her final days. She wanted to make her guests feel at home even though she was fighting the biggest battle of her life, metastatic Stage IV Lung Cancer and would not let it define who she was. Ramona will be sorely missed by all. Services: March 30, 2019, Saturday at 11 o'clock. The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 8730 E. Skelly Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma Honorarium: Donations may be made to Skelly PTO, 2940 S. 90th East Ave., Tulsa, OK. 74129 Donors choice The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The family would sincerely like to thank everyone who provided words of encouragement, visits to home and hospital, cards, food and total mania. She enjoyed it all and expressed she had great family and friends. She knew where she was going and was at peace with the knowledge she would be in heaven.

Tributes

Ramona Elizabeth Gestland

August 22, 1953 - March 21, 2019