Sylvia Flogstad

B 1896 D 1972

Sylvia was born on a small farm in Story County, Iowa on December 26, 1896. Her parents were Paul P. and Jennie (Daniels) Flogstad. Her only sibling, sister Ida Flogstad, was born eighteen months later.

Sylvia was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa, graduated from Roland High School in 1916 and went on to Iowa State College. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, a social sorority. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics on June 9, 1920. She taught at Roland High School for a year until marriage. Sylvia met Ernest Jesse Rasmusson who became her husband while on the Iowa State campus. He was an Iowa State College graduate of the division of Electrical Engineering in 1919.

He recounted meeting the attractive dark-haired girl while she was working part-time in the college library. And thus began a 51-year attachment. They were married in 1921; they raised three daughters: Arlene Rasmusson Artz, Phyllis Rasmusson Huffman and Roberta Rasmusson Protzmann. Sylvia and Ernest had eleven grandchildren. Ernest died in 1991. Life for Sylvia was multi-faceted. As the wife of an engineering salesman who became an executive for the General Electric Co. heavy industry division, she found there were social duties because of his work. She was a sparky, vivacious woman and a great asset to her husband.

As a mother with three daughters, Sylvia shone. They were cared for, curled up with curling irons, dressed in starchy dresses, pampered with eggnog when ill and instructed in the fine arts of homemaking at an early age. Yet they were allowed to be their own free, independent selves. She raised them in her image. As a community citizen, Sylvia excelled. She was president of the Wauwatosa High School PTA, a substitute teacher at the Wauwatosa Public High School and treasurer of the Wauwatosa Women' Club. Wauwatosa, where Sylvia and Ernest resided, is a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She was a founding member of PEO Chapter AH; active in Eastern Star and Zeta Tau Alpha and president of the Milwaukee Pan Hellenic Society. Sylvia and Ernest provided a home for her father, Paul Flogstad, and at times for his father, Rasmus Rasmusson. This was hard work, much cooking, great finesse in tending to the idiosyncrasies and whims of the fine old gentlemen. She did it cheerfully.

During World War II, Sylvia volunteered to be trained as an air raid block warden. She also gave much time to the American Red Cross. She was a great cook and she loved holidays which were family occasions at her home.

We celebrate Sylvia's life in the Plaza of Heroines. (Although Sylvia is listed in Iowa State College records as Sylva she called herself after graduation Sylvia.)

10/25/94

Paver Inscription:

"Sylvia Flogstad
B 1896 D 1972
BS Home Econ
Wife- Mother
Family Builder"