Torleiv N. Aarstad

Torleiv N. Aarstad, 82, resident of Burlington, died Monday, May 14, 2007 at Mira Vista Care Center in Mount Vernon. Torleiv was born to J.J. and Anna Boe Aarstad on June 2, 1924 in Bow, Washington. He was confirmed in 1937 at Burlington Lutheran Church and lived his entire life in the Burlington area. Torleiv attended the Olympic Marsh School and Lincoln School in Burlington and was a 1942 graduate of Burlington High School. After leaving high school Torleiv was employed by Darigold farms and volunteered as an observer at the lookout station on Samish Island during WWII. In 1947 he married Berniece Fisher in Rapid City, South Dakota. Mr. Aarstad farmed for 30 years before becoming employed by Skagit Valley Trucking Company. He retired in 1989 and enjoyed many years traveling the United States with Berniece in their motor home. Torleiv was laid to rest on May 16, 2007 during a family burial at the Bow Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna; his father, J.J.; younger brother, John; and brother-in-law, Maurice Bright. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Berniece, of Burlington; son, Jon (Susan) Aarstad, of Burlington; granddaughter, Jill Aarstad and her fiancé, Paul DeCelle, of Big Lake; grandson, Jon D. (Evanne) Aarstad, of Lake Tapps; and great-granddaughter, Saige Mykel Aarstad, of Lake Tapps; sisters: Irene (Lyle) Fox, of Burlington, Audrey Bright, of White Center; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Laura Fisher and LaVene Odom, of Rapid City, SD, and Robert and Doris Fennell, of Coco Beach, FL; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the wonderful nurses, aides, doctors and staff of Skagit Valley Hospital, the Skagit Valley Kidney Dialysis Center, the Sedro-Woolley Life Care Center, Mira Vista Care Center, Hospice and the Visiting Angels for their loving care of Torleiv during his illness. A special thanks to Dr. Kumar, Dr. Aldrich, Dr. Morrie Johnson and Reverend Mark Johnson for their support and guidance to Torleiv and his family. You were all very kind during this difficult time in our lives. An informal memorial gathering for friends and family to celebrate Torleiv's life will be held at the Skagit Valley Eagles, Aerie 3242, Burlington on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be send to the Kidney Dialysis Center at Skagit Valley Hospital, c/o Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 or the Skagit Valley Eagles Auxiliary #3242 Diabetes Foundation, c/o Rhonda Kollar, 2730 Club Court #112, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Arrangements are under the care of the Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington. Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on June 5, 2007