Elizabeth "Liz" Marion Onstad Ellertson

Liz, 94, passed away peacefully in the morning on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, with her daughter Karen holding her hand and family by her side. Liz was preceded in death by her parents, Emma Wilhelmina Wentzel Onstad and Iver Theadore Onstad; her siblings, Louise Martin, Luther, Margaret Davenport, and Alvin; and sisters-in-law who were more like sisters, Sis Ellertson, Marilynn Onstad, and Wanda Onstad. She was also preceded in death by close friends and travel partners, Verna and Bill Olson, Lyla Thompson, Pat Nygaard, “Betty and her other friend Betty” (Seberg and Magnuson), Eva, Doris, and many more. Left to cherish the memories they made with Liz are her supportive, and devoted daughter, Karen and husband Glen Grossman; her loving grandchildren, Jaymes and Jansina; friends, LeeAnn and Dale Weigt and Jon and Judy Olson and their families who were more like family than friends; her two favorite brothers Philip and his wife Pat and Norman (Wanda) Onstad; siblings Gerri Carlson, Doris Onstad, Lydia Doherty, Mary Metras, and David Onstad; many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews; and friends Myrt, Ethel, Lavonne, Luella, Mary, Betty, Jan, Carol, Lee (Ken), Liz, Marge, and more. She is also survived by her daughter Virginia Brager and grandson, Randy Brager, whom she loved very much. Liz was the oldest of 12 children raised on farms in Northern Minnesota during the Depression. After graduating from the Northwest School of Agriculture, University of Minnesota at Crookston, Liz made her home in Minneapolis. Eventually moving to Coon Lake Beach, she spent summer days at the lake waterskiing and sunning with her family and close friends, the Olsons. Over the years she had many different jobs—nurse’s aide, waitress, bullet inspector at the Twin Cities Arsenal—and retired from Medtronic over 30 years ago. Liz became an avid traveler in her retirement. She went on several 2-3 month-long trips through various states with Verna and Bill in their motor home. She also enjoyed Disney, Las Vegas, Arizona, New York, and Seattle with family and friends. In 2013 she remarked that she had been to every state except Hawaii and Alaska, so the next week Jaymes asked her to go on a cruise with him to Hawaii and in 2016 Jaymes and Jansina took her on an Alaskan cruise! Liz was also an enthusiastic international traveler. She went to Norway with Karen, again with Lyla, and a third time with cousins Jeanne Hole and Pete Onstad and their kids; Jamaica with her cousin Barb Onstad and Uncle Nord; the Virgin Islands, Scandinavia, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico, and a cruise with her friend Lyla Thompson; and too many short trips to mention. Liz loved finding great treasures, including books, at garage sales with her lifelong friend, Verna. She had a passion for reading and sharing the books she read individually with people she lived near and exchanging bags of books with Sis the 2-3 times a year they met up. Each year Liz made (and shared) lefse she made from hundreds of pounds of potatoes, a true labor of love. She was pleased that Jaymes and Jansina have continued the tradition—but on a much-diminished scale. Liz was the best cheerleader to her family! She was present for nearly every concert, dance recital, play, graduation, holiday, and event, with a ready smile, words of praise, and camera in hand. She was open to new experiences; she tried a puff of Jaymes’ cigar in Hawaii—or at least she good heartedly posed for a pic. She recorded every episode of Get Smart because she knew her grandchildren loved the show. She later converted hundreds of home videos to DVDs. Her grandkids called her “Grandma Liz, Computer Wiz.” When weekly family movie nights were put to a halt because of the pandemic, she learned how to join weekly Zoom meetings and online movie parties. She was blessed with a sharp mind to the end. Shortly before she passed, she updated her book, Liz’s Lefse, to add her latest travels to her life story. Liz is remembered for her positive attitude and gratitude for life. Her smile lit up a room. She loved those around her, and it showed. She is missed by many. There will be an Open House to Celebrate Liz's life from 1-4 PM on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 9011 Pierce St. NE, Blaine, MN 55434. At 2pm there will be a brief dedication of a Little Free Library to honor Liz's love of reading and sharing books. Feel free to take a book home (Liz left many books), and bring a book to share if you like.