Asbjorn Sigurd Rostad, born Feb. 6, 1931, to Sara (Lien) and Oskar Rostad at their farm home in Orland, South Trondelag, Norway, died Oct. 14, 2021, at the Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’Alene, surrounded by his wife of 41 years, his three children and one of his grandsons. His hospice stay lasted only ten days but he was declining in health for the past ten months in his Hauser home. Progressive supranuclear palsy weakened him and eventually contributed to congestive heart failure.

Through it all, he never once complained. Fortunately, for most of his nearly 91 years he was able to be physically active in numerous ways through his mid-80s. Though he could be stubborn, he was always known for his active lifestyle, willingness to help, easy-going ways and infectious smile.

Asbjorn graduated from high school at 17, attended agricultural school for two years, helped farmers learn ways to improve their crops, and then joined the Norwegian Air Force. He was part of an exchange program with the U.S., spending a year at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss. Back in Norway, he filled the rest of his enlistment teaching radar information. Returning to the U.S., he enrolled at the Newark College of Engineering in New Jersey in the fall of 1954, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1959. During this period, he became an American citizen.

He married Janet Taylor in 1955 and the couple moved to the Los Angeles, Calif., area in 1959 at the expense of Hughes Aircraft where he began a career that would last for 34 years. Asbjorn and Janet had two daughters, Lisa and Karen. Though they divorced after 23 years, they maintained a friendly relationship and shared parental concerns as their daughters grew up, married and produced three grandsons which they both enjoyed. Janet passed away in 2018.

While working for Hughes, Asbjorn also attended the University of Southern California at his company’s expense, graduating in 1964 with his master’s in electrical engineering. Through the years he held management positions and often received bonuses for completing projects ahead of schedule. He traveled throughout the United States and in a number of other countries negotiating satellite sales. He visited England, France, Italy and Finland in Europe, plus China, Japan and India.

Following his retirement in the mid-nineties he continued consulting for Hughes, then later worked for Telespace, a Canadian company that did projects with Hughes. The consulting came to an abrupt end in 2001 after 9/11 when the U.S. temporarily halted satellite sales to other countries. For the remaining 20 years of his retirement, he focused on real estate investments and Sons of Norway plus cutting wood, planting a large garden, cooking and baking and being a “farm boy” once again, this time on his Hauser acreage.

Asbjorn and Barbara were married in the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, San Pedro, Calif., Nov. 15, 1980. Lisa and Karen were junior bridesmaids. In 1982, Erik was born and Asbjorn began a new cycle of parenthood.

Ever proud of his Norwegian heritage, Asbjorn spent 51 years actively promoting it through his membership in Sons of Norway, first in San Pedro, and then here in Coeur d’Alene. He was president multiple times in both lodges and also counselor, an office filled only by past presidents. He was an elected delegate to almost every district and international convention held biennially during his

half century of participation. He also served as District Six President from 1989-1992 and was elected to be District Six Director on the International Board 1992-1996.

After moving to Idaho in 1997 he later served on the District Two Board as Zone Director during the 2006-2008 biennium. Some of his achievements over five decades included helping organize four new lodges in District Six, teaching Norwegian classes and helping plan King Olav V’s 1975 visit to San Pedro. In 2010 during the lodge’s centennial year, he and Barbara co-chaired the first Sons of Norway International Convention in Idaho. It was his idea and he saw it through from conception to convening at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. For all these accomplishments and more, the Coeur d’Alene Lodge recently presented him with an Emeritus Award for Distinguished Service.

Being physically active was essential to him. He engaged in ski activity most of his life, starting with cross-country skiing in Norway including some competitive events. Later in the U.S. he also did a lot of downhill skiing, continuing both well into his 80s. He also served as a guide for blind skiers at Ski For Light a number of times, even guiding one to a gold medal in a 10K race at the World Winter Games for the Disabled at Innsbruck, Austria in 1984. The pair was also in a 4 x 5K relay race there where the team took silver. He was her guide again in 2000 at the Ridderenn in Norway, the parent event to Ski For Light. Started in 1975, Ski For Light offers a weeklong opportunity for persons with visual and/or mobility issues to learn this Nordic sport with guides who volunteer their time.

Jogging was another activity Asbjorn enjoyed, running a number of races over the years including a marathon at age 50. He ran in Blooomsday several times, all after age 70. He also annually underwent a physical fitness test conducted by Sportsklubben Fram, a Norwegian organization in Los Angeles which measured abilities in strength, endurance, speed and flexibility. He achieved their 25-year award. When in California he made several backpacking trips into the High Sierras. Here in Idaho, he and Barbara started the Hiking Vikings, a group that went on more modest monthly hikes around the area for 15 years.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, and son, Erik Rostad, Hauser; daughter, Karen Heberer, Long Beach, California; daughter, Lisa (John) Navone, Corvallis, Oregon; and three grandsons. Karen’s son, Cory lives in San Pedro. Zachary, son, to Lisa, is in Long Beach while Kristian, also Lisa’s son, lives near Corvallis in Philomath. All Asbjorn’s four siblings are alive and living in Norway including Karen Selmer, Oslo; Eli (Dagfinn) Kyrkjebo, Lillehammer; Gudmund (Inger) Rostad, Kapp; Tore Rostad, Opphaug. Many other relatives also live in Norway including cousins, nieces and nephews, their mates, children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both parents.

A Celebration of Life will be at 3:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at Yates Funeral Home – Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden. Memorial gifts in Asbjorn’s name may be made to Ski For Light, 1455 W. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55408 or to the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, 105 N. 1st St., Ste. 100, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Those who would like to view the service on live streaming may contact Lisa Navone, Corvallis, Ore. on Facebook or text her at 310-987-8429.

Please visit Asbjorn’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at yatesfuneralhomes.com.