Elaine Ruth Skatrud

Elaine Ruth (Larson) Skatrud, age 91, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2022 at Sage Living in Jackson, Wyoming, where she resided the last three years, allowing her to live close to her daughters and their families. Elaine was born to Kenneth G. and Josephine (Wiegert) Larson, Sr. on April 19, 1931 in a farmhouse outside Cato, WI.  She graduated from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, WI in1948; and St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN in 1952. Elaine married Dale Skatrud on December 27, 1952 at Gjerpin Lutheran Church near Valders, WI. During their 59 years of marriage they lived in St. Paul, MN; Conrad, Harlowton & Libby, MT; Casper & Jackson WY; Moorhead & Edina, MN. Elaine taught Junior High Home Economics and Dale was a Lutheran Pastor (ELCA). Everywhere Elaine went she was known for sharing her many homemade Scandinavian treats.

Elaine was active in the Lutheran Church her entire life. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Bethel Series, and served as a Stephen Minister for years, bringing comfort and care to others within the church and beyond. Upon retirement, Elaine and Dale began their travel adventures which included visiting family and traveling to many vacation spots around the country, Mexico and Canada; and driving to many places to watch grandchildren take part in school, club, and college activities and sporting events. They were both passionate skiers and spent 11 winters of their retirement working and skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Both had a tremendous curiosity about the world in general and the history of Christianity in particular, which they were able to explore during trips to Turkey, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Tanzania, Norway, Greece and teaching English to children in China. 

Elaine was proceeded in death by: her parents; her loving husband Dale; brother Kenneth “Junior” E. Larson; brother-in-law Ralph Skatrud; and sisters-in-law Irma Skatrud, Marilyn Skatrud, and LaVerne Larson. She is survived by brothers John Larson and Richard (Donna) Larson; children David Skatrud, Mary (Frank) Mello, Kari (Matt) McCreedy, and John Skatrud; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; close family friend Ellen Metcalf; and numerous nieces and nephews.  

A graveside service will be held at the West Valders Cemetery at noon, Saturday, July 30, 2022; followed by lunch at 1 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, Valders, WI. All are welcome to either or both the graveside service and the lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ELCA World Hunger http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/ELCA-World-Hunger/Ways-to-Give)or donor’s choice.