Elaine Madison Brostrom

Elaine Madison Brostrom, 96 of St. Peter, Minnesota died on December 30th, 2024, at Benedictine Living Community. She was born in Poy Sippi, Wisconsin, April 29th, 1928, the daughter of Raymond and Isabel (Godson) Madison. After the death of her father in 1931 and her mother’s marriage to Harold Madison, she was adopted and raised by Harold.

She attended schools in Poy Sippi and Berlin, Wisconsin, graduating from high school in 1945. She attended Dana College, Blair, Nebraska, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1951 and met her future husband Milt when she was a senior at Dana and Milt was starting his career of teaching.

In 1972 she was awarded a master’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. On June 8th, 1952, she married C. Milton Brostrom. They made their home in Wahoo, Nebraska until 1955 when Milt accepted a position in the Dept. of Mathematics at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. Their son James was born in 1959 and daughter Jennifer in 1961.

Elaine held various positions at Gustavus including assistant to President Frank Barth from 1972-1975 and Director of Public Affairs from 1978-1991 when she retired. She was active in her church, serving on the Synodical Board of the Southwestern Synod of the ECLA and the Board of Minnesota Council of Churches. Her volunteer activities were centered at First Lutheran Church, American Swedish Institute, St. Peter Public Library, and Gustavus Library Associates and she was a member of P.E.O. Throughout their marriage Elaine and Milt enjoyed traveling to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and a trip to Iceland amongst various destinations within the US, including annual snow birding trips to Destin, Florida.

Elaine was preceded in death by her brother Robert Madison. Elaine is survived by her husband, Milt, her son and daughter James and Jenny, along with their spouses, Shari Pell Brostrom and Tim Tolley. In addition, Elaine is survived by four grandchildren Nikki (Doug) Bellrichard, Eric (Amber) Sjostrom, Matthew (Marissa) Brostrom and Andrew Westphal. Elaine and Milt were blessed with (5) great grandchildren, Kennedi Westphal, David Bellrichard, Oliver Brostrom, Conway Brostrom, Asher Sjostrom and Ella Sjostrom. A 6th great grandchild is due June 2025 whom she can watch from Heaven. Elaine is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sandra Madison, nieces Nicole (Craig) Madison, Amy (Robin) Madison, brother-in-law, Paul Brostrom, sister-in-law, Helen Ihrig and the many, many extended family members included in the “Dear Ones” letters and emails including the West Coast, South West and Atlanta Brostroms, Faheys and Ihrig.

 A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, January 4th at 12:00 at the Embassy in St Peter.