H. Karoline Borstad

H. Karoline Borstad passed away in Yuba City, CA on June 3, 2010. Born in Malmberget, Sweden, on September 16, 1915, Karol
immigrated to America with her parents and younger sister Anna as a young girl. Her family settled in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, area of Minnesota and her family grew to include two brothers.
As a young adult Karol went to Devil's Lake, ND, to visit relatives and find a job. It was here that she met and married the love of her life, Joseph E. Borstad. Son, Joel K. Borstad was born in Devil's Lake. Later they moved to eastern Washington and finally settled in Yuba City in 1946.
Karol and her family were members of Faith Lutheran Church in Marysville for over 50 years where she enjoyed her Circles and Bible Study groups. After Joe passed away in 1958, Karol returned to school and polished her skills. She was hired to work in the business office at Rideout Hospital where she was happy to serve for 22 years on the 3-11pm shift. Karol's voice greeted callers on the old switchboard and announced when visiting hours were over. From the information window at the front door, Karol did everything from greeting and directing visitors to the right rooms to admitting patients arriving after hours, rousing on-call staff when they were needed and selling candy from a tray of treats at the front counter to benefit The Peppermints, hospital volunteers. Karol regarded Rideout Hospital as her extended family. Her peanut butter and spritz cookies were legendary and doled out in the office like the treasures they were.
Highlights of her life included day excursions with her family to picnic, fish or just go for a drive, family visits to Minnesota and, with her beloved sister Anna, trips back to Sweden. Karol reveled in being a grandparent and delighted in her many excursions and adventures with friends or family to the Mendocino Coast, Grass Valley and Nevada City, Music Circus performances and dining out. Karol made birthdays and Christmas special with traditional food, music and stories and baskets full of gifts. She especially liked puttering and cleaning her house. She never forgot how to play and she valued a lifetime full of friends near and far.
Karol was preceded in death by her parents, Hulda and Karl Blom, husband Joseph E. Borstad, son Joel K. Borstad and her sister Anna Malecky. She is survived by brothers Harold Blom and Robert Blom, numerous nieces and nephews in Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Catherine Borstad, Hansville, WA; grandchildren Christopher Borstad, Stanwood, WA; Inger Borstad Price, Olivehurst, CA; Erika Borstad, Yuba City, CA and four great-grandchildren.
Interment and graveside services in celebration of Karol's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2010 at Sutter Cemetery, Sutter, CA. A reception at Faith Lutheran Church, 1000 D Street, Marysville, will follow. Memorials may be made to The American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407 or to Faith Lutheran Church, Marysville.