Muriel Ruth (Allen) Omestad

Muriel “Jo” Omestad died in Bluffton, South Carolina, on July 11, 2022, at age 100. She had been a 6-year resident of Sun City, a community within Bluffton. She was born Muriel Ruth Allen in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on March 22, 1922, to Arthur Allen and Lucille (Albrecht) Allen and was the second of three children.

After her father, a World War I veteran, died from a war-related illness in 1931, Jo was sent to live with an aunt in Iowa, later reuniting with her mother in Minneapolis. Her formative years coincided with the Great Depression and World War II, and Jo became resourceful as she dealt with early adversity. She was not one to give up easily and would often say, “We do what we have to do.” Locked out of a kindergarten classroom after arriving late for school, then five-year-old Jo walked across the street and earned a little money selling newspapers. For most of her century of life, Jo was known by family and friends for her tart sense of humor and her skill at arguing a point, typically punctuated by a snappy wisecrack.

In 1940, Jo graduated from Miller Vocational High School in Minneapolis, where she studied cosmetology. During her twenties, she modeled and worked as a beautician in Minneapolis. She bought her own hair salon in downtown Edina and ran the shop in the 1940s. She married Glenn Omestad, a World War II veteran, in 1947. They lived in St. Louis Park for 20 years and then moved to Edina, where they stayed until 1995.

The Omestads had three children—Donald, Jackie, and Thomas. While she raised her children, Jo held various jobs, including running a beauty salon in her basement. Later, Jo became a Realtor, working for Brooks Realty, Barton Realty, and finally Edina Realty until her retirement. Her knack for the real estate business led her to become an early “house-flipper” in the Minneapolis area—purchasing, renovating, and then reselling a few houses in the 1970s. She was a passionate and talented duplicate bridge player, achieving Silver Life Master status and often traveling to bridge tournaments. She excelled at home-decorating and sewing, creating women’s garments from scratch. Jo also enjoyed dancing, travel, and golf.

In 1995, Jo and Glenn moved to Plant City, Florida, settling next door to their daughter Jackie. In 2010, they followed Jackie to Greenville, South Carolina. Glenn died shortly after their move. In 2016, Jackie relocated to Bluffton, and Jo, no longer comfortable living alone, decided to move in with her.

Jo was predeceased by her son, Donald; her son-in-law, Michael Currier; and her brother James Allen. Her survivors include her sister, Charlotte (Allen) Holmes, of Mesa, Arizona; her daughter, Jackie Currier, of Bluffton, South Carolina; her son, Thomas (Sara), of Bethesda, Maryland; two grandchildren, Joanna and Kai Omestad, also of Bethesda; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private graveside service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will be held on September 30. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.