Elizabeth A. Rustad

Elizabeth Ann Rustad passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, after a well-fought battle against dementia. 

Liz was born on July 21, 1933, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Harry and Norma Lurndal. 

Raised in the beautiful Norwegian valleys of Modena, Wisconsin, Liz was baptized into the Christian faith at the Modena Lutheran Church, where she met a boy named Gordy during her early Sunday school years. They remained childhood friends throughout their youth and dated during their years together at Mondovi High School. Gordy left to serve in the Navy, while Liz attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to earn her teaching degree. 

On December 10, 1955, Gordon Bervyl Rustad and Elizabeth Ann Lurndal were married in the same Modena church where they first met and then moved to St. Paul Park to begin their new life. 

Liz taught elementary school while Gordy studied at Dunwoody Institute. Together, they devoted their lives to raising their four kids: Julie, Mark, Greg and Dean. 

For 10 years, their home was Richfield. Following a five-year transfer to Davenport, Iowa, the family moved into their new home on Hillcrest Lane in Eden Prairie, where Liz would live for the next 46 years.

Liz and Gordy were best friends. They spent their adult years together hosting family events, birthdays, holidays, swimming pool parties, traveling, golfing, and hosting Father’s Day weekends at Peter’s Resort in Glenwood, Minnesota. 

While Liz spent 25 years working for Coldwell Banker Burnett Realty, you would find her mostly at Bent Creek Golf Course. Golf became her passion, and boy did she golf. To the tune of 130 rounds each year, boasting three holes-in-one and countless friends and golf trips that Gordy and Liz shared along with the porch people at Bent Creek. 

We all came to love Liz for her John Daly outfits, her Lady Gaga impressions, her clown outfits for the 4th of July parades, and the breakfast sandwich named after her at Bent Creek. She was the life of every party. 

But of all her greatest rewards in life, none of them would equal the love and pride she held for her grandchildren. Nine of them. All boys. Then six more great-grandchildren. Today, their hearts are broken.

She is preceded in death by Gordy in 2001, and Liz is survived by children Julie (Mike) O’Shaughnessy, Mark (Barb), Greg (Rose), Dean (Joellyn), along with grandsons Patrick O’Shaughnessy (Alisha), Trevor O’Shaughnessy (Beth), Brendan O’Shaughnessy (Katie), Max Rustad (Lindsey), Bennett Rustad (partner Brenda Zuniga), Griffin Rustad (partner Megan Connor), Avery Rustad, Drew Rustad and Charley Rustad. 

She is also survived by great-grandchildren Seamus, Rose, Henley, Conor, Thomas and Logan Jane, her sister Marge, brother Art (Barb), sister-in-law Betty, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. 

Her funeral service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel, 7625 Mitchell Road. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. 

The service will be simulcast online.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials in Liz’s name to Grace Hospice. While we all join to celebrate her life, Dizzy Lizzy will be playing 18 holes with Gordy before sipping a refreshing vodka tonic to celebrate her finish line. 

Godspeed to our mom, our friend, our beloved Grandma Liz and GG. Thank you for everything. A life well lived. See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.

For more information, call the Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel at 952-975-0400.