Cynthia “Cindy” Oien, 65, Hannaford, ND, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at her home.

Cindy was born in Kensel, ND on December 13th, 1960. She was the beloved daughter of Robert (Bob) and Leah Clemens. She grew up in Revere, ND before moving to the family farm west of Hannaford. She graduated from Hannaford High School in 1979. Cindy continued her education at the Pierre School of Nursing in SD gaining her LPN. She met Ivan Oien on February 15th, 1985 on a 25 cent bet that she would dance with him. They got engaged December 13th, 1985 and were married at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cooperstown, ND on February 15th. 1986. Cindy and Ivan moved to their forever home on a ranch by Hannaford, ND in 1987. They brought their first child, Ivan Oien Jr, into the world on March 27th, 1990. Their daughter, Leah, was born on May 23rd, 1995.

She began her Nursing career in Cooperstown, working at the State Hospital in Jamestown, and then eventually finding her lifelong career at the Nelson County Health System where she discovered her passion working with the elderly population. She was Director of Social Services for 20+ years where she eventually found her dream job as a Dementia Care Advocate. She became certified through Teepa Snow with

Five Certifications known as the Positive Approach to Care

PAC Certified Independent Champion Teacher

Certified Independent Trainer

Certified Independent Consultant

Certified Independent Enhanced Trainer

Certified Independent Engagement Leader

Leading to the opportunity to teach these programs that are designed to provide caregivers with the tools and support they need to provide compassionate and effective care to individuals affected by dementia. She also became North Dakota’s first representative for Dementia Friends, where she began to provide education to rural communities within North Dakota.

When Cindy was not at work she loved her horses, cooking, baking, sewing, canning, gardening, going on the Spyder Motorcycle with Ivan, and valued her family above anything else, and of course her poodles. Her children, husband, and poodles were her biggest sources of pride. If you knew Cindy, you knew how she could light up a room, her laughter, her smile, and her love of life. She will be greatly missed by all of her loved ones.

She is survived by her husband, Ivan; a son, Ivan Jr, Fargo; a daughter Leah (Devon) Patton Melbourne FL; a brother Jeremy (Rhonda) Clemens; nephew Bryce Clemens; and mother in-law Margeane Oien.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert; mother, Leah; step mother, Monica; her brothers Mike, Mark, Miles; sister Susan; and father in-law Ernest Oien.

If you’d like to send a memorial in memory of Cindy, please consider donating to Snow Approach Foundation, Inc. If you’d like to send a memorial in memory of Cindy, please consider donating to Snow Approach Foundation, Inc. https://snowapproach.org/

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Binford, ND.

The Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Binford, ND, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Burial will be held at Gospel Tabernacle Cemetery, in the spring.