Carol Rudrud

WESTBY Carol Rudrud, age 88, died Friday, February 16, 2018 surrounded by her loving family and caregivers at the Bland Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care in Viroqua. Carol Rudrud, age 88, of Westby, WI, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018, at the Bland-Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care, Viroqua, WI, in the loving arms of her children and her special angel, Angie Hornby. Carol Faye DeWitt was born December 22, 1929, in Bloomingdale, WI, to Clifford and Bernice (Parr) DeWitt. She attended Bloomingdale Grade and Westby High School. She worked for Swifts in Viroqua for a time prior to her marriage. On September 26, 1947, she married Blaine Rudrud at the Bloomingdale Church. They reared their family on their farm near Bloomingdale, and farmed until retirement. They sold the farm in March, 2000, and moved to the new home theyd built in Westby, where they resided until January, 2016, when Carol entered Norseland Nursing Home. Blaine entered Norseland in July, and passed away August 2, 2016. Carol found joy and fulfillment in motherhood and in the active, hard-working outdoor life of a farm wife. Neat and meticulous about her appearance and in everything she did, Blaine often exasperatedly, but admiringly said "You cant get her out the door until she looks Just so". Like Scarlet OHara only her hands gave her away as a hard-working farm woman. She was an immaculate housekeeper and applied the same standards to milk-house and barn. She loved music and dancing and as a young mother tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to teach her reluctant children what she considered a basic social skill. She embraced family and friends, took being a wife and mother very seriously, was passionate about her home, cooking, baking, gardening and canning, but sewed and mended only when she had to. She was a member of the Bloomingdale and Westby Coon Prairie Ladies Aides. Alzheimers dementia took away most of what made her Carol, but her warm and wonderful smile and mothering instinct remained and was often remarked upon by Norseland staff throughout her time there. She is survived by her children: Alan (Ken Kelleher) Madison, WI, Kathryn Dipert, Walkerton, IN, and Mary (Alan) Meyer, Sun Prairie, WI; grandchildren: Brenda (Tom) Egli, Sun Prairie, WI, Brian (Stephanie) Meyer, Ramsey, MN, and Randy (Lezley) Pontius, Brook, IN; great grandchildren: Travin, Blaine, and Lilah Egli; Carsten, Kylian and Kendalyn Pontius; Jack and Luke Meyer; her sister: Ann (LeRoy) Manke, Westby, WI and her brother: Douglas DeWitt, Rapids City, IL; In-laws: Elwood Rickman, Portland, OR, Alice Alderman, Madison, WI, Beverly Rudrud, LaCrosse, WI; cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law: Douglas Dipert; grandson: Edward Pontius; sisters: Lila Miller and Alice Thompson; brothers and sisters-in-law: Arvo (Bud) Miller, LaVerne Thompson, Linda DeWitt, Doris and Chester Berglund, Hazel and Archie Bergh, David and Laurie Rudrud, Howard Rudrud, Inez Rickman, Ralph Rudrud, and parents-in-law: Hjalmar and Agatha (Mortenson) Rudrud. The family expresses sincere thanks to the many who assisted and cared for Carol at Norseland, to her earlier home care givers, Deidre Morrison and Diane Baker, and to special friend, Bill Ottinger, for bringing Kathy in time for the final goodbye. Special thanks to Dr. Bill Calkins and the Vernon Memorial Hospice staff for their gentle, loving care during the final days of Carols life, in the beautiful tranquility of the Bland-Bekkedal Hospice Center. Funeral Services for Carol will be held Friday February 23, 2018 at 11:30 A.M. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Pastor Dan Wollman of the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church will officiate with burial immediately following the service. Friends may call during a visitation two-hours prior to Fridays service from 9:30-11:30 A.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be directed; to Bland Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care, to Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church or to the Westby Area Performing Arts Center. On-line condolences may be offered at www.vossfh.com The Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., in Westby is serving the family (608) 634-2100.