Rebecca Borlaug

BORLAUG REBECCA ANN MADISON- Rebecca Ann Borlaug, 26, died early Friday at her home. Rebecca had struggled with poor health in recent years. She had been living with her parents, James and Gwen Borlaug. Rebecca was born July 30, 1982, in St. Paul, Minn., arriving 12 weeks ahead of schedule. Becky entered the world early and has left it far too early. She completed her elementary education in Minot, N.D. Junior and Senior High classes were in four different schools in three different statesâ?¬?Blaine, Minn., Bettendorf, Ia. and Madison. She was glad to be able to finish the last three years of high school at Madison Memorial where she graduated with honors in 2000. While the changing of schools and cities was a challenge, she had remarked that it was also an advantage, providing a much broader, diversified experience. Rebecca received an associate degree from MATC in Madison. Poor health prevented her from continuing her education. Becky loved creating pottery pieces from raw clayâ?¬?a skill she developed in high school and at MATC. It was her hope to improve enough to resume the art later this year. While in Iowa Becky became very involved in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate program of the Iowa Forensic Association. In her one year of competition she won the State Novice of the Year Award. After arriving in Madison she led an unsuccessful effort to develop a sanctioned program at Memorial High School. Becky had an early love of horses, always cherishing the special moments she shared as young girl with Grandpa Glenn at the horse-track stables in Winnipeg. In the tradition of Grandpa Oliver and her father, she enjoyed journalism, both as a photographer and as a writer. She loved diving into a controversial subject for the MATC student paper or the trumpeting of the rights of the down-trodden. Surviving are her parents; one brother, Paul of Oregon; grandmothers Beverly Haugen of Jamestown, N.D. and Judy Borlaug, Washburn, N.D.; grandfather Glenn Haugen and his wife Shirley of Valley City, N.D.; and her good friend Eric Johnson of Monona. Funeral services will be held at GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5701 Raymond Road, Madison at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 with the Reverend Brent Campbell presiding. Family and friends may call on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Gifts in memory of Rebecca can be made to Porchlight, Inc., (whose causes were close to her heart) 306 N. Brooks St., Madison WI 53715 or to a charity of your choice. May Becky find through death the wholeness and peace that eluded her in this life.