Elsie Stonestreet, age 91, of Lincoln, formerly of Aurora, passed away Monday, October 28, 2024, at Gateway Vista in Lincoln.

Elsies’s wishes were to be cremated. The family will have a Memorial Service for her sometime next spring. Inurnment will be at the North Logan Cemetery north of St. Paul. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Condolences may be made to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Elsie Marie Stonestreet, the daughter of Marius and Emma (Sonderup) Rasmussen was born in Howard County, on August 12, 1933 and passed away at Lincoln, on October 28, 2024 at the age of 91.

 
Elsie received her elementary education at rural schools near Dannebrog and Nysted and graduated from Dannebrog High School in 1951. She attended Dana College at Blair and graduated from Grand Island School of Business in 1954. 

Over the next 50+ years, Elsie was employed as Secretary/Administrative Assistant for several businesses in Cairo, Grand Island, Aurora and Lincoln. She owned and operated the Stitch & Knit Shop in Aurora from 1971 – 1974 and taught sewing classes.

Elsie married Virgil Stonestreet on September 9, 1953 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island. They lived and farmed in the Grand Island/Cairo area until 1967 when they purchased a farm near Marquette. They moved to an acreage near Aurora in 1976 and resided there until 2002 when her husband passed away. She resided in Lincoln from 2002 to 2004, moved to Leavenworth, KS for 5 years, and returned to Lincoln in 2009. 

She was baptized on September 24, 1933 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Howard County; and was confirmed on May 4, 1947 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Dannebrog. Elsie was a former member of Messiah Lutheran in Grand Island, St. John’s Lutheran in Kronborg, St. Martin’s Lutheran in Kansas City, KS and was currently a member of American Lutheran in Lincoln. She taught Sunday School and Confirmation classes, served on the Church Council and was active in WELCA. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and gardening. Elsie published a Sonderup Family History book in 1981 and a second edition in 1996; and in 2012 published a book on the Rasmussen Genealogy. Her family was always the center of her life. She especially enjoyed attending family reunions in Nebraska and West Virginia. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sister and brother-in-law, Eline and Robert Gans, sister, Rosetta Scranton, infant sister, Annetta Rasmussen, brothers-in-law, Paul Selden and Ted VonKampen, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Russell and Sue Stonestreet, Hazel and Ova Faust, Susie and Paul Kuhn, Opal and Glen Smith, Gladys and Gerald Metz, Earl and Aletha Stonestreet, Glenda and George Lemon, Alma and Chuck Boles, Joan Lassitter,; step-sons, Morris and Homer Stonestreet, and step son-in-law, Bobby King. 

Those left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Vicky (Jeff) Sellon on Centennial, CO and Sheila (Robert) Bluford of Lincoln; son, Bradley Stonestreet of Leavenworth, KS; step-daughter, Barbara King of Dover, TN; six grandchildren, Mark Sellon, Brandon and Brittani Bluford, Samantha, Alexis and Benjamin Stonestreet; 3 great-grandsons, Albert, Brody and Gabriel, and a great-granddaughter: Jordan Olivia; 2 sisters: Marilyn Selden of Broomfield, CO and Loretta VonKampen of Scottsbluff; special friends, Jan Wagner of Lincoln and Roger Lange of Aurora; plus extended family including step-grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.