Clifton Erstad

Clifton “Clif” Karl Erstad, age 89, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sun Prairie, WI. He was born at home on the Eggum farm in DeForest, WI on August 27, 1935. Clif was the fourth of seven children born to Einar and Jennie (Manki) Erstad. Clif attended the one-room Wangsness elementary school and graduated from DeForest High School in 1953. Besides graduation, Clif’s favorite part of high school was sports. He lettered in football, basketball and track.

Clif enlisted in the Army and was trained in helicopter repair. He was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii and also served in South Korea. Clif was a lifelong member of the VFW. After his discharge, he attended barber school and worked for years at Reiniger Barber Shop in Sun Prairie and later as barber at Mendota State Hospital. Clif then worked for the Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Laboratory until his retirement in 1995. After retirement, he continued to barber for Duane Moran on Saturday mornings until the shop closed. Clif was also “barber” for his Dad, sons, brothers, nephews and friends.

Clif married Kathleen Ballentine on July 11, 1964, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Madison, WI. They bought the DeForest home farm in 1969, raised their sons Karl & Kurt and lived there until the farm was sold in 2017. Clif was a lifelong and active member of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church. As a young man, he mowed the cemetery and then continued to mow the church lawn with his sons until he was in his 70’s. He served on the church council, cemetery board & was church treasurer. Clif and Kathy traveled to Norway to visit family, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Costa Rica, Mexico & Canada. Clif visited 49 states, missing only Oregon.

Clif enjoyed sports in every season. He played softball (fast & slow pitch), skied in the UP of Michigan and Colorado, golfed and waterskied. He continued to enjoy senior golfing around the state of Wisconsin with his brother Dennis and 5 friends until his late 70’s and had two hole-in-one achievements. In 1969, Clif joined the Arlington Curling Club. He was part of the men’s league until he retired and then joined the Senior League. His team went to tournaments every year and won four Senior National Tournaments. He shared his love of these sports with Kathy, Karl, Kurt, family & friends.

As the son of immigrants, Clif was proud of his Finnish and Norwegian heritage. Beginning in the 1960’s, Clif assisted his Dad in preparing the lutefisk for Christmas dinner, as well as mixing the dough for the flatbrød. Clif passed the torch for mixing the flatbrød dough to his sons and nephew Todd while going through chemo treatments; niece & goddaughter Darlene learned to cook the lutefisk for the annual Erstad lutefisk dinner, but he was still the boss in 2024! Clif treasured his time with family, especially the sibling get-togethers, weddings, parties and picnics. He had a wonderful laugh & great sense of humor.

Clif is survived by his wife Kathy of almost 61 years, sons Karl, Kurt (Nicki Van Abel) and grandchildren Samantha and Jake. He is further survived by his sister Marilyn Maurer, brothers Errol (Ruth) and Don (Jane), sisters-in-law Alice, Beverly and Carol, special cousin Renny Anderson, cousins in the U.S., Norway & Finland and his nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Einar & Jennie, brothers Richard, David and Dennis, brother-in-law Jerry Maurer, mother-in-law Erma Johnson, brother and sister-in-law Duane and Ruth Ballentine.

A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church, 820 River Road, DeForest WI. A Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of service. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Burial will take place at Norway Grove Cemetery on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Norway Grove Memorial Church, 820 River Road, DeForest, WI 53532 or the Arlington Curling Club, 207 Pierce Street, Arlington WI 53911.

To watch the Live Stream of Clifton's service please see or chick on the link below.

Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church - YouTube

To view and sign this guestbook please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Windsor/DeForest Chapel

6924 Lake Road

608-846-4250