Mark Ostlund spent decades ensuring that a small neighborhood bakery started by his parents grew into a regional fixture, helping turn a simple morning routine into a daily staple across eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. The co-owner of Sandy’s Donuts died unexpectedly due to health complications.
From a Coal-Burning Stove to a Regional Staple
The business began in 1983 when Mark’s father, Sandy Ostlund, found himself looking for a new livelihood at age 52 after years in the trucking business. A friend suggested turning a favorite pastime into a storefront, drawing on a family recipe Sandy had learned as a child in Tioga, North Dakota, where his mother made buttermilk doughnuts in a cast-iron pan on a coal-burning stove. Alongside his wife, Donna, Sandy opened the doors in a former West Fargo bakery.
Those early days required relentless endurance. Sandy made the pastries at night while Donna and a small staff sold them through the day. The work was demanding enough that the couple occasionally slept in sleeping bags in a back room to keep pace. Mark, one of three children, stepped away from his second year of college to help. He spent nearly his entire adult life building the enterprise alongside his family.
| Milestone / Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Sandy and Donna Ostlund open Sandy’s Donuts in a former West Fargo bakery. |
| 2002 | National chain Krispy Kreme opens in Fargo; Mark Ostlund remains confident in local quality. Krispy Kreme closes five years later. |
| 2008 | Sandy Ostlund passes away; Mark takes on the mantle of preserving his father’s legacy. |
| 2023 | The business celebrates its 40th anniversary, employing about 100 people and producing up to 16,000 doughnuts daily. |
Local Bakery Outlives National Competitor
When national giant Krispy Kreme opened a location in Fargo in 2002, some might have questioned the longevity of an independent local bakery. Mark, who had recently taken over operations as his mother retired and the shop moved into a former Hardee’s building on Sheyenne Street, remained entirely unconcerned. “All the talk about doughnuts. All the hype. It just makes people want to buy doughnuts more. And I have better doughnuts,” he noted at the time. The corporate competitor closed five years later, while Sandy’s continued to expand.
By its 40th anniversary in 2023, the operation had grown to employ roughly 100 people, turning out anywhere from 6,000 to 16,000 doughnuts a day depending on the season. Preparing the inventory required a 12-to-16-hour process with kitchen deliveries kicking off around 2 a.m. Locations eventually grew to include Sheyenne Street in West Fargo, Broadway in downtown Fargo, and the Osgood area in south Fargo, alongside wholesale distribution across eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.
Mark eventually stepped back from daily operations, confident that the next generation was ready to carry the work forward. His son Jeff, who began working at the shop when he was 13 before serving in the Marines and earning a business degree from North Dakota State University, took over the business. In a 2025 interview, Mark reflected on the transition with pride. “Jeff is doing a fantastic job. He’s grown it more and he’s probably going to make it more profitable than I ever did,” Mark said. “He is a go-getter and not scared to jump in and do the work.”
Mark Ostlund Passes Away at Age Sixty Two
Mark Ostlund passed away at age 62. Writing on the business’s Facebook page, Jeff Ostlund explained that his father was born with a bad heart valve and underwent open-heart surgery in early 2025. Complications from that procedure ultimately led to his passing.
Tributes from community members appeared quickly online. Amanda McKinnon Shilling wrote that Mark was a bright light who would be deeply missed, while Suz Bracewell remembered him as a gem whose enthusiasm and positivity served as an inspiration.
Mark leaves behind his sons Jeff and Jesse, as well as a daughter, Jenna. Services are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, at Salem Evangelical Free Church in Moorhead, with visitation beginning at 1 p.m., a service at 2 p.m., and coffee and doughnuts to follow.
