Elsa Austad

MADISON- Elsa (Raadstrom) Austad passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. She was born in Gjovik, Norway. Elsa grew up during the German occupation of Norway during World War II of which she had many great stories. There she enjoyed skiing, competitive speed skating and met the love of her life, Einar Austad. They immigrated from Norway in 1954 with their daughter, Bente and Elsas family. Once in the United States they began living the American dream. They enjoyed dancing, skiing, traveling, but most of all their family. Elsa was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by daughters, Bente (Mike) Bender, and Lizbeth (Donald) Doran; son, Steinar (Mary) Austad; granddaughters, Jenny (Che) Stedman, Tera (Jason) Hornbeck, Erika (Dave) Scallisi, Duan Austad and Kirsten Austad; and seven great-grandchildren. Elsa was preceded in death by her husband, Einar; parents, Hjordis and Anton Raadstrom; sister and brother-in-law, Sonja (Alf) Soderlond. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Committal service will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park at 12:15 p.m. A special thanks to Denise, Sue, Kerri and everyone at Midwest Home Care and Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to HospiceCare. Those we love dont go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear. Goodbye dear Mother. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Service: Committal service will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park at 12:15 p.m.