Borghild Risendal

Borghild "Borge" Olsen Risendal, 89, of Stillwater passed away peacefully Wednesday August 10 with her three children at her side. Sons, David (Betsy) of Denver, James of Minneapolis; daughter, Martha (James) McCartney of St. Paul; grandchildren, Emma, Samuel & Sarah McCartney, and Brady & Landon Risendal; nephew, Jack (Kris) Risendal of Richmond, VA survive her. Her husband Carl Risendal preceded her in death in 1999.
Borge was born and raised in Redwood Falls, Minn., where she went to high school and played trombone in the marching band. After graduating in 1944, she worked for a year at Jack Knutson's jewelry store in Redwood Falls. She moved to St. Paul to train as an x-ray technician at Bethesda Hospital, landing a job with St. Paul Radiology where she worked until 1956. During this time she met Carl Risendal of Stillwater, who she married in 1953. When Carl died, she sold the family home and moved to a townhouse in Stillwater's Oak Glen near so many friends that she said it "was like having family in my back yard."
A staunch Norwegian, she visited the "Holy Land" of Norway four times and joined organizations celebrating Norwegian heritage. The only thing greater than Borge's love for Norway was her love for her family and friends. She was very proud of her three children, who all graduated from college - something she and Carl never had the chance to do. She had a wide circle of friends, was an active volunteer, and loved playing bridge and golf.
She worked at Lake Elmo Elementary's library, retiring after 10 years. Carl and Borge enjoyed retirement, often going south for part of the winter to Florida and Arizona. Carl had little interest in foreign travel so as a widow Borge made up for lost time by traveling to Italy, Germany and, of course, Norway.
Borge had a deep faith that shaped her life. A long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she was grateful for the ministry she received there. During her final hours she prayed confidently "I pray the Lord my soul to take." She looked forward to receiving the fullness of God's promise and reuniting with her husband, parents and siblings.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 3 - her 90th birthday - at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, with visitation an hour before and a reception following. Private burial at Fairview Cemetery in Stillwater. Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater. The family wishes to thank Boutwell's Landing for their excellent loving care over the last two years.