Audrey Smorstad

Audrey Smorstad, age 83, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 4, 2009, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Doug Mathison presiding. Burial will be in the Pontoppidan Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning. Audrey Marie (Osterhus) Smorstad was born on September 18, 1925, the daughter of Milford and Alma (Hauge) Osterhus, south of Ossian, Iowa. Audrey was baptized on Oct. 25, 1925 and confirmed on Sept. 24, 1939, at the First Lutheran Church south of Ossian, by Rev. Shefueland. She attended school at Dover #6 in Fayette County and graduated from West Union with the class of 1943. Audrey went to work that fall at a restaurant for two years and then to Waterloo and worked for Rath Packing Co in the office, running IBM machines. One December 1, 1948, Audrey married Harris L. Smorstad at the First Lutheran Church, south of Ossian by Rev. E.O. Ulring. To this union, one son: Gary and twin daughters: Judy and Joan were born. They started farming in 1949, at their present farm in Glenwood Township for many years. They also owned and operated a repair shop until 2000, when they retired. Audrey was a member of the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and later joined the Glenwood Lutheran Church. She was active in church circle, ladies aid and had taught Sunday School for many years. Audrey’s survivors include her son: Gary (Deb) Smorstad, Decorah, IA. Two daughters: Judy (Jim) Drilling, Calmar, IA and Jo (Charles) Scholbrock, Waucoma, IA. Two grandsons: Carl and Eric Smorstad. One brother-in-law: Clifford Smorstad, Decorah, IA. Four nieces: Wanda (Gary) Shaw, Darlene (Ron) Emery, Diane Burke and Donna (Richard) Bently. One nephew: Dean (Mary Jean) Smorstad. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents: Milford and Alma Osterhus and her husband: Harris Smorstad in 1994. Three brothers: Ahlert, Otto and Kenneth Osterhus.