Carol Grussing

Carol Norbeck Grussing died October 3, 2013 in her lakeside Pillager, MN home. Born to Chester and Evelyn Brider Norbeck in Burlington, WA, she was a graduate of Sedro Woolley, WA schools and attended Seattle Pacific College. Needing to be economically self sufficient and eager for new experiences, she worked in law enforcement and for steamship and automotive companies and a theological seminary in Seattle and San Francisco in the 1950s and early 1960s.

After marriage to the Rev Roger Grussing in 1960, Carol lived in St. Paul, MN, Bismarck, ND, Idaho Falls, ID, Arlington, WA, Melbourne, Australia, Bloomington, MN, and Harrisburg, PA, before retiring to the Brainerd Lakes Area. Carol provided her Presbyterian/United Church of Christ minister spouse with valuable insight into each community in which they lived as well as gracious hospitality to friends, parishioners and neighbors. A very avid reader and lifelong learner, she inspired her daughter, Sarah Grussing, PhD to pursue a degree in literature.

In later years, she treasured her role as grandmother and actively supported her granddaughters' academic, artistic and personal endeavors. Her granddaughter Zoe is an Art History/Studio Art major at Carleton College and is currently studying in Italy. Zoe's sister Mehgan is a high-achieving senior at East High School in Denver and an accomplished student of ballet at the Colorado Ballet Academy.

Throughout her life Carol supported the Church's efforts towards international and cross-cultural understanding and peacemaking, as well as hunger, medical, and disaster relief. More recently, she advocated the Church's leadership role in care of the natural environment which we are leaving to future generations.

Memorials may be given to Crosslake Presbyterian Church's "New Noah Project," a multi-faceted eco-stewardship effort that will include a rooftop photovoltaic system. A memorial service will be held later in the year.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.