Those close to the family say a Crookston woman

Tragedy struck a northern valley family on  Monday. A Crookston husband and wife are dead and two of their daughters have been treated for apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dead are: 49-year old Kent Ostgaard and his 51-year old wife Natalie. Natalie Ostgaard was a former reporter for the Crookston Times newspaper.

Their 22-year old daughter Aryanna was taken to Altru hospital in Grand Forks and later air-lifted to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. No further information is available yet, regarding her condition, but we do know today was Aryanna’s 22nd birthday.  A17-year old, Gabi Ostgaard, was treated and released from Riverview Hospital in Crookston. A third daughter was away from home, attending college in Duluth.

It was the deceased couple’s 17-year old daughter who called 9-1-1.

James Tadman, Polk Co. Chief Deputy: “At 7:49 today’s date, the Polk County Sheriff’s Department received the 911 call from the residence, from a 17-year old juvenile advising of carbon monoxide poisoning. There were 4 people inside the residence. Kent Ostgaard, age 49 and Natalie Ostgaard age 51 were pronounced dead at the scene.”

They were clearly having furnace trouble at this home. The deceased mother, posted this on Facebook on Tuesday. It says quote: “Well, we had to order the part for the furnace and it won’t be here until tomorrow. Thanks everyone who offered the use of their heaters. We managed to make do with fireplaces, electric stove, blankets and the two heaters we have. Hoping this will be adequate until furnace is fixed.” –unquote.

James Tadman, Polk Co. Chief Deputy: “That’s what we’re investigating. At the time we arrived at the residence there was low propane in the tank and the furnace was not running at that time.”

Tadman says there were no other gas operated portable heaters in the home that could have been responsible for producing carbon monoxide.  The case remains under investigation.

Chief Deputy Jim Tadman says this case is a tragic reminder that everyone should have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. It’s an odorless gas that simply puts its victims to sleep.

Crookston Police have released the names of the two people who were found dead Monday morning in Crookston, Minnesota. Authorities responded just before 8:00 a.m.

Police say Kent Ostgaard, 49, and his wife Natalie Ostgaard, 51, died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Their daughter 22-year-old Aryanna Ostgaard was found unresponsive and taken to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. A 17-year-old daughter was taken to Riverview Hospital in Crookston and was treated and released. A third daughter is attending college in Duluth and was not home at the time.

The four family members were found inside the home located the east edge of the Crookston city limits. Authorities believe a faulty furnace could be to blame.

Police in Crookston, Minnesota, are investigating the death of two people. Valley News Team’s Neil Carlson is on scene and says authorities say it appears two people have died from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.  The actual cause of death is still under investigation.

Two of the couple’s children are also believed to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, they have been taken to a hospital and are in serious condition.

The scene is still very active, names of victims are not being released. Stick with valleynewslive.com for updates on this developing story.