ELK HORN — Elsie Marit, daughter of John and Maren (Jensen) Leistad, was born
Jan. 9, 1911, in Elk Horn, and grew up on a farm near Elk Horn. She attended country
school near her home and graduated from Elk Horn High School in 1929.
May 6, 1931, Elsie married Carl Gunner Bonnesen at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church.
They had a marriage lasting 73 years. They had one daughter, Patricia Ann. The family
made their home in Elk Horn. Elsie was a homemaker. She was a lifelong member of the
Elk Horn Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed. She was active in the
church as a financial secretary, volunteer in the Cradle Roll Department and member of
the Women of the Church. She volunteered at the Danish Windmill and Salem Homes,
where she read mail for the residents and performed many other duties. She also belonged
to the Outlook Study Club for many years. She died Oct. 9, 2005, at Salem
Lutheran Home at age 94 years.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, parents and seven siblings, Anna,
Olga, William Alfred, Elna, Agnes and Norman. She is survived by her daughter, Patricia
Ann Blake (Gerald) of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Todd Christensen (Jennipher) of Denver,
CO and Maria Trosper (Matthew) of Ankeny; two great-grandsons, Maxwell Carl and
Samuel Tate Christensen of Denver, CO; a sister, Dagny Gude of Elk Horn; sisters-inlaw,
Arlene Leistad and Martha Bonnesen of Elk Horn; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Oct. 13, 2005, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church with Rev.
Keith Andrew Menter officiating. Burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery. Casket
bearers were Leroy Pedersen, Arnold Gude, Galan Johannsen, John Leistad, Richard
Bonnesen and Dennis Andersen. Ohde Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.