Carol Ann Kelly, born in Rolette, North Dakota (ND), April 9,1939. Devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully, at Quaker Hights Care Community, Waynesville, Ohio on Sunday, February 22 at the age of 86. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Kelly, parents Oliver O. Finstad (August 30, 1901-February 1972) and Agnes A. Bahl (November 9, 1908 – August 24, 1975). 

She attended school at St John ND and Berwick ND, graduating in 1956, ND State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1960, master’s degree in special education from Wright State University, Dayton Ohio in 1984. In her early adult years, she was a Master Seamstress and taught sewing and tailoring at Stebbins High School and at Singer Sewing in Hills and Dales. She was also an expert in sewing machine repair helping all her friends over the years. She was an avid cyclist and at age 50 she accomplished week-long bike rides across Iowa and Ohio – GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure). For many years she served as the Social Chairman of the Dayton Cycling Club. With her master’s degree in special education, she implemented the Dayton Public School’s SHEDD program at The Alpha School. The SHEDD program was created by Dr Charles Shedd and is a multi-sensory teaching technique. Carol established the Mult-handicap Special Needs program at Belmont High School where she taught for 15 years. At Belmont she partnered with Children’s Medical Center as part of the Dayton Public Schools Partners in Education Program and was highlighted formally by CMC: “Partners in Pride”. With donations from the Dayton area community, she and one of her special students were able to travel to San Francisco to be honored nationally. She came out of retirement from Belmont High School to teach special education and multi-handicapped High School students at Stivers School for the Arts where she wrote, directed, created costumes and her own props. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and served as Province IV President. She belonged to the American Legion Post, Kettering, Ohio and served as President of the Women’s auxiliary for many years. She established a program with the Dayton Veterans Administration Hospital to provide clothing for veterans at the facility. And as part of the American Legion Unit 598, she also ran the Auxiliary Gift Shop at the Dayton VA. 

She is survived by her brother, Lee Finstad of Grand Forks ND, sister-in-law, Lynn Alenjdreno of Centerville OH, sons Mark (Janet) Minges, Kevin Minges, Michael Minges, daughter Naomi (Bruce) Lawhun, grandchildren Jenna, Joshua (Kathleen), Justin, Mackenzie, Mikayla, Marissa (Ryan) Truskot, Victoria (Dave) Costello, Alex (Autumn) Lawhun, Cora Minges, great grandchildren Thomas Jacob Truskot, Charles Theodore Truskot, Cameron Rose Costello, Jackson David Costello.

Many thanks for the caregivers at Quaker Heights for their support, care and love for Carol.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, February 27, 2026 from 11:00am to Noon in the WESTBROCK FUNERAL HOME- KETTERING, 5980 Bigger Road. A Celebration of Carol's life will begin at Noon. She will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery, Dayton.