Arne Rostad

Arne Rostad

Arne Rostad of Everett, WA passed away on March 8th at the age of 90.
He was born in Opphaug, Norway on January 30th, 1921 to Kristian and Hanna (Nilsen) Rostad. He was the youngest of nine children. The family immigrated in 1926 to New York and then settled in Sioux City, Iowa where Arne attended school. He met his future wife, Fern (Jimmie) Collier in eighth grade and they graduated from Central High School in 1941. They married in 1942. Arne was inducted into the Army Air Corps in 1943 and was trained as an aircraft mechanic. He spent over two years in England where his unit was awarded six bronze stars for air offensive campaigns in Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; the Ardennes and Central Europe.
He spent 35 years working for the Boeing Company, the majority of his time there as a crew supervisor. He was sent to Iran in 1974 and spent four years there working for a subsidiary of Boeing training the Iranians to operate and maintain Boeing airplanes.
He was preceded in death by his wife Fern in 1987, his second wife Odeal (Tillson) in 2004 and his third wife Gerda (Storseth) in 2010. He is survived by his children, William Rostad of Haines, Alaska, Thomas Rostad of Winlock, WA and Fern Miller of Oak Harbor, WA; Four step-daughters, Kristine Martin, Katherine Staffenhagen Sally Storseth and Pam Tillson; two grandchildren, Robert Rostad and Sara Gonzales; and two great-grandchildren, John Robert and Emmett Thomas.
A memorial service will be held March 19 at 1 p.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 9320 Meadow Way, Everett 98208.
There will be a reception in the church following the service. To honor Arne, please wear your Norwegian sweater (if you have one) to the memorial.
Family and friends may sign an online memorial and leave memories at

www.burleyfuneralchapel.com