ELSTAD, Laura M. (Monson) 1913-1999

LUNDY, MONSON, LEE, ELSTAD

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/20/2010 at 08:49:12

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, April 6, 1999

Laura M. Elstad

Laura M. (Monson) Elstad, 85, died at the Life Care Center in Yuma, Ariz. Feb. 18, 1999.

Services were held at the Elstad Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, Minn., with Pastor Stephen A. Fiksdal as officiant.

Burial was at the Elstad Lutheran Cemetery.

Laura Monson was born April 12, 1913 in Frankville Township, Winneshiek County, near Decorah. She was the daughter of Henry and Stella (Lundy) Monson. Her parents died when she was 4 years old and was raised by an aunt and uncle, Amelia and Adolph Lee of Decorah.

She graduated from Decorah High School in 1931 and continued her education at the Chicago College for Women's Physical Education. While in Chicago, she worked as a playground director of the Chicago Daily News playground.

She was then employed as a physical education teacher and special advisor to girls in the Hillcrest School, a private school for girls in Beaver Dam, Wis.

Wishing to further her education, she enrolled in Luther College in Decorah where she became the first director of women's physical education at the college while working to complete her bachelor of arts degree.

She married Martin K. Elstad on June 8, 1938. at Decorah. The couple moved to Story City, Iowa. At the outbreak of World War II, they moved to Chicago, where Martin entered the Navy.

After their travels during wartime, they settled on their family farm near Canton, Minn. Laura served as librarian, for the Canton and Harmony schools and Martin taught high school science.

Laura Elstad was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth, and a brother, Gaylord.

Survivors include her husband, Martin; son, Leif and his wife, Audrey, of Bqulder City, Nev. and their children, Dawn and Jon; son Erik and his wife, Maryann of Boulder, City, Nev., and Erik's son, Craig.

Casket bearers were Frank Tribon, Don Grooters, Jim Taubert, Jon Elstad, Don Bergey and Craig Elstad. Julie Dragvoid was the organist.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.