BRUNSVOLD, Rachel G. 1916-2007

BRUNSVOLD

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/6/2009 at 11:14:32

Rachel G. Brunsvold, 91, of rural Kensett, former resident of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, Kensett, with Reverend Tom Martin officiating.  Burial was in the Elk Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery. 

Rachel G. Brunsvold was born on April 1, 1916, in rural Lake Mills.  She was the daughter of Ole T. and Anna T. (Heimdahl) Haugo.  Rachel was baptized in the Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, and reaffirmed the faith of her baptism through confirmation.  Rachel graduated from high school in rural Lake Mills in 1934, and from Normal Teaching School in Cedar Falls in 1935.  Rachel taught school for four years in Bristol Township #3, rural Lake Mills, and Silver Lake #5, rural Northwood.  Rachel was united in marriage to Eldren Brunsvold on Oct. 24, 1942, in the Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills.  After their marriage together they farmed for 64 years in rural Worth County.   To this marriage five children were born, Richard, Dianne, Christine, Mark, and David.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldren, who died on June 20, 2007, her parents, and eight brothers and sisters.

Gardening was a passion.  Rachel won many ribbons at the Worth County fair for her many flower arrangements.  She was also a master of Rosemalling, painting porcelain dolls, baking, cooking, volunteering for crises line, and providing shelter for abused women.  Rachel was a member of the Friendship Garden Club, and the Worth County Historical Society.  Her great love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.  To her family, Rachel was noted for her futile attempts to teach her children to play the piano.

She was a member and very active in the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, ladies aid and church circle.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Richard (Gerd) Brunsvold of Torpo, Norway, Dianne (Stephen) Ellis of Anchorage, Alaska, Christine (Conrad) Hoigaard of Minneapolis, MN, Mark (Vicki) Brunsvold of Minneapolis, MN, David (Pieper) Brunsvold of Ashland, WI; 10 grandchildren, Suzanne (Barry) Plunkett-Neild, Rachel (Carter) Cox, Matthew, Erin, and Joey Ellis, Amanda, Pieper, Sydney, Jackson, and Isaac Brunsvold. One brother, Walter Haugo of Litchfield, MN, sister-In-Law, Eunice Haugo, Lake Mills, brother-in-law, Robert Thoe, Oroville, CA.