Norma (Onsrud) Benrud

Norma (Onsrud) Benrud, 95, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend of Onalaska and formerly of La Crosse passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the Onalaska Care Center. Norma was born January 18, 1918 to Alfred and Bessie (Simonson) Onsrud in Ettrick, WI. She was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Konrad Urberg in Ettrick Lutheran Church. She attended elementary school in Ettrick and graduated from Blair High School in 1936. She moved to La Crosse in 1937 and began working at La Crosse Hospital. On June 19, 1940 she married Allen La Verne Benrud in Blair, WI. They moved to Black River Falls for one year and then to La Crosse. She was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church in La Crosse for over 65 years.

Norma lost her husband in 1958 at age 40. She worked at many different jobs to raise her three children. She was a wonderful cook and had several cooking jobs including Lutheran Hospital, old Cerise Club and South Avenue Cafeteria. She was manager of the kitchen and dining room at La Crosse Country Club in the early 60s. In 1965, she became the manager of the first Kwik Trip store in La Crosse, and in later years she was a supervisor for 14 years at Gifted Hands, retiring at the age of 78. She was a very loving and generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother who is known for making the best cookies ever. Whenever you might stop by, there were always cookies to be found in her cookie jar. She had a great sense of humor and even through many trials and tribulations in her life, she always had a good attitude and a smile on her face. She loved her family deeply.

Norma is survived by two daughters; Kay (Bernie) Sasse and Betty (Jack) Weber both of Onalaska; a son, Brad (Pam) Benrud of Onalaska; a sister, Carole Shulins of Daytona Beach, FL; a brother, Bennett (Helen) Onsrud of Ettrick, WI; seven grandchildren, Kris Rochelt, Sue (Dwight) Reynolds, Sandra (Mike) Weihing, Dan Ganschow, Jason (Angel) Benrud, Jacob (Joanna) Benrud and Rob Schienle. She was known as GG to her 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson, Nicole, Tanner and Nicholi Rochelt; Cassie and Daniel Reynolds; Mikaela and Caroline Weihing; Lily, Megan Haley, Thomas, Ian and Reese Benrud; and Koldon and Larissa Schienle; she is further survived by three nieces and a nephew, Susan Shulins of Tampa, FL, Jolene Bentzen of Holmen, WI, Eloda Linehan of Newbury Park, CA and Rick Onsrud of Ettrick, WI. Preceding her in death were her husband, Allen; her parents, Alfred and Bessie Onsrud; two brothers, Edward Onsrud who was killed in Guam in 1944 and Arthur Onsrud who was in the Merchant Marines and died in 1956; a sister, Myrtle Onsrud who was a nurse in WWII and died in 2000.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday; April 8th at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 420 West Avenue South in La Crosse with Pastor Tom Meyer officiating. Burial will follow in the French Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery in French Creek, WI. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. Memorials may be given to St. Pauls Lutheran Church or to WAFER. Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse is assisting the family.