Florence Avanelle (Rasmussen) Austrheim (1918-2016)

AUSTRHEIM, RASMUSSEN, WOSTER, ROSS, ORNGARD, THOMPSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/4/2016 at 10:48:59

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Florence Avanelle Rasmussen was born February 3, 1918, to R.O. and Anna May (Woster) Rasmussen in Roland, Iowa. She was baptized on May 26 at the Bergen Church. Florence had fond memories of growing up in Crystal Lake with her family and many friends, including the Rognesses, the Nelsons, and Mathisons.

The family moved to rural Story County when Florence was a senior in high school. The students at Milford School were most welcoming and Florence was invited to join the girls basketball team after making an impressive long shot.

After graduation, she attended AIB in Des Moines. With the lure of higher wages, she moved to Chicago. During the war years, she worked at a defense plant, Dx Crystal, that made electronics for airplanes. It was there she met her future husband, Harold Austrheim.

Harold's father, Knut, traveled to Iowa to visit the Rasmussen family. To Florence's surprise, Harold was happy to move to Ames. They married and fell in love with the 13th Street hill area and moved to a house on Summit Avenue, where they lived for some years. In 1962, the Austrheim family moved to Roosevelt Avenue, where she was a member of the neighborhood club, Emanon. She was an active member of Bethesda Lutheran Church. Florence enjoyed planning birthday parties for her children and outdoor fun. One of her hobbies was writing poetry, including her annual Christmas letter. Flowers were also a personal satisfaction, as was spending time with her six grandchildren.

With advancing age, Florence moved to the Madrid Home where she spent her final years. She celebrated her 98th birthday party with family members and said it had been a good life.

Florence passed away at 98 years of age on February 6, 2016, at the Madrid Home.

Florence is survived by her daughters, Linda (Thomas) Ross and Sarah (Andrew) Orngard; and six grandchildren, Tim (Dara) Ross, Matthew Ross, Ehler Orngard, Ella Orngard, Severie Orngard, and Solveig Orngard.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; her brother, Robert Rasmussen; her sister, Gertrude Thompson; and her son, Owen Austrheim.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Bethesda Lutheran Church or the Madrid Home.

Her cremated remains will be buried in the Roland Cemetery.

Memorial Service
FEB 10. 03:00 PM
Adams Funeral Home & Cremation Service
502 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA, US, 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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