Godfrey Natvig

Friday, March 16, 2018 3:46 pm

Godfrey Natvig, 97, of Saude, Iowa, left his earthly home for his heavenly home on Monday, March 5, 2018. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Lindstrom Funeral Homes in Cresco and also from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, at Saude Lutheran Church, in Lawler. Services were at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, at Saude Lutheran Church, in Lawler. Lindstrom Funeral Homes in Cresco served the family. lindstromfuneralhomes.com.

Alvah Godfrey Natvig was born March 12, 1920, to John and Clara (Trieder) Natvig in rural Cresco. He was baptized April 11, 1920, and confirmed March 25, 1934, at the Saude Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member, and attended worship services regularly until shortly before his death. Godfrey attended rural school in Howard County and graduated from Cresco High School.

Godfrey was united in marriage to Theodora Knutson Dec. 2, 1942, and the couple farmed on their family century farm all their lives. Godfrey continued to farm along side his son Michael until his health wouldn’t permit him to anymore. To this union, eight children were born.

Godfrey was a loving husband, father and grandfather. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting ducks and pheasants. He also enjoyed watching Iowa football and basketball and was an avid reader. His children, grandchildren, and extended family will always treasure the memories of their life and visits on the farm.
He was a member of the Cresco School Board for many years, a church elder at Saude Lutheran Church, a long time Farm Bureau member, a member of the Howard County Cattleman’s Association, and was a also the Howard County Soil and Water Commissioner for several years.

He is survived by seven children: Diane (Tosten) Skaaland of Wittenberg, Wis., Duane (Rachel) Natvig of Northfield, Vt., Gayle Zurfluh of Eatonville, Wash., Marilyn (David) Wallman of Medinah, Ill., Tina (Frank) Veltri of Eugene, Ore., Ellen (Ed) Rink of Decorah, Michael (fiancé Kristy Lee) of Saude; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Donna (Don) Jepson; his brother-in-law, John Knutson; a son-in-law, José Randall; and many nieces and nephews.

Godfrey was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his daughter Mary Randall, a brother Odell Natvig, a son-in-law Richard Zurfluh, his mother and father-in-law, five brothers-in-law, and eight sisters-in-law.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Decorah Hospital for the kind care of Godfrey during his hospital stay, as well as Michael for his wonderful care of his dad and also his caregiver Brenda Spencer during his declining health.