Olive “Ollie” Brenna, 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the McKenzie County Hospital in Watford City, North Dakota.
Olive (Ollie) Juanita Hasby was born on Sept. 8, 1931, to Oscar and Josephine Hasby on the farm near Hampden, ND. Her father died in a farm accident prior to her birth. She was the youngest of 6 children. Her elementary school years were spent in a 1-room country schoolhouse near Hampden. She also attended school in Nekoma during the winter months. They sold the farm and moved to Sanish, ND, when her mother married Martin Froshaug in 1945.
Ollie met Clayton Brenna in the spring of 1947 and they were married on the Eldred Brenna farm on November 1st of that year. She spent many years on their farm raising their 5 children and helping with the farm. In 1971, they faced every parent’s biggest nightmare with the loss of their son, Terry, in a car accident. In 1980, Ollie and Clayton moved into New Town. With most of the children raised, Ollie was able to complete high school and attend college. She also studied to be an EMT with the New Town Ambulance Service. In 1996, Ollie and Clayton moved to Watford City and then to Minot in 2014. Ollie’s final move was to the Horizon Assisted Living, Watford City, in November of 2025. She passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Ollie was always involved with her community whether it be church or other community organizations. She loved to sing and was most appreciative of band and piano music. Above all was the love of her family – her husband with whom she shared over 69 years of marriage, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ollie was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar, Josephine, and Martin; her husband, Clayton; her son, Terry; siblings, June (Boyd) Froshaug, Gordon (Evelyn) Hasby, Ken (Jeanine) Hasby, Glen (Lilah) Hasby, and Opal (Leonard Garness, Ernie) Yuzicapi; sisters-in-law Evelyn (Fritz) Buerkle, Delores (Joe) Schneider, Fern (Arnold) Ellestad and Elaine (Leo) Doll; brother-in-law, Stanley Berg.
Ollie is survived by son, Roger (Kathy) Brenna of New Town, ND; daughter, Glenda (Davis) Littlefield of Bismarck, ND; son, David (Tammy) Brenna of New Town, ND; son, Joel (Sonja) Brenna of Mandan, ND; 9 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Eleanor (Jerry) Washburn of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Colleen Sherven of Minot, ND; brother-in-law Owen (Rose) Brenna of Keene, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Karen Broderson
(Watford City, ND)
Dec 22, 2025
Gloria & Larry Sorenson
(Minot, ND)
Dec 22, 2025
Margaret Renbarger
Dec 22, 2025