With heavy hearts but profound gratitude for his presence in our lives, we announce the passing of Jerrol M. Tostrud on October 3, 2024.

Jerrol Myles Tostrud

Jerry was born August 10, 1938, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota, though summers were spent working on the family dairy farm in Holmen, Wisconsin or in other parts of the Midwest on road construction crews. After graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1956, he attended St. Olaf College, graduating in 1960. After two years in the Army, he would enjoy a 36-year career with West Publishing Company, rising to Executive Vice President and serving on the Board of Directors from 1979 to 1996.

Words don’t fully capture Jerry’s civic commitment. He was elected to the South Washington County School Board from 1968 through 1977, serving four years as Chair. He was a Trustee of William Mitchell College of Law from 1982 to 1991, serving three years as Chair. He served on the St. Olaf College Board of Regents from 1995 to 2011, four years as Board Chair. He served on the American Judicature Society Board from 1986 to 2001, two years as chair. He served on the Board of Governors of Somerset Country Club from 1993 through 2005, two years as President. He was on the Board of Directors of the St. Paul Foundation from 1995 to 2004. He chaired the Collier Community Foundation. And he served on the Board of Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club beginning in 2007, spending three years as President. In between these commitments, Jerry remained ever-active in his church, deeply committed to philanthropy, and constantly present for anyone in need, his friends, and his family.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Jasper and Beulah Tostrud, his sister, Arnita, his brother, Merlin, and his son-in-law, Chris Hoffmann. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Alleen, his children Eric Tostrud (Laurie), Karen Hoffmann, and Jon Tostrud (Amy), his grandchildren Elsa Swanson (Gunnar), Ty Tostrud, Nick Hoffmann, Bridget Hoffmann, Hayley Hoffmann, and Luther Tostrud, great-granddaughter Olive Swanson, extended family, and a great many friends.

Memorials preferred to the Tostrud Endowed Scholarship Fund, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057, or to the Jerrol M. Tostrud Memorial Fund at the Collier Community Foundation online at cfcollier.org. If donating by check, please make payable to Collier Community Foundation (1110 Pine Ridge Road, Ste. 200, Naples, FL 34108) and include “Jerrol M. Tostrud” on the memo line.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church, 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul, MN. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service. There will be a reception immediately following at Somerset Country Club, 1416 Dodd Road, Mendota Heights, MN. A visitation will be held Thursday, October 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church.