Donald Rostad

Donald M. Rostad

Donald Merlin Rostad, age 67, died September 17, 2007 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was born March 9th, 1940 in Brodhead, Wisconsin, the son of DeLyle and Frances Schrader Rostad. He graduated from Brodhead High School in 1958 and in 1962 earned a B. A. degree in Business Administration from Luther College In Iowa.

While at college, Don was a member of championship intercollegiate debate teams. He traveled to tournaments in many states. In 1961 he participated in the National Collegiate Debate Tournament at Oklahoma State University. And, in his senior year he competed in the prestigious Harvard University Invitational Debate Tourney. For his overall successful debate record, Don was honored while in college with Lifetime Membership at the Degree of Special Distinction in Pi Kappa Delta, the National Collegiate Speech and Forensics Association.

After college, Don joined the Internal Audit Staff of General Mills, Incorporated in Minneapolis. A year later, to then best fulfill his mandatory military service obligation Don applied for entrance into the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB in Texas. He was accepted and upon graduation was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Don then served as an accounting and finance officer at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; in the city of Ankara, Turkey, with the United States Air Forces Europe; and at Randolph AFB, Texas. In 1968 with the rank of Captain, he was released from active duty and later honorably discharged in 1969 upon completion of his six year service commitment.

For twelve years beginning in 1968, Don held several officer positions in Trust Operations and Computer Systems at the former Marine National Exchange Bank in American Bankers Association held at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. By 1980, after helping to found the Wisconsin state-wide Marine Trust Company and originating its financial reporting systems, Don was named a Vice President and was also appointed its first Comptroller.

In 1984, Don began work for computer software vendors of Trust Baking systems near Philadelphia and later in Birmingham, Alabama. He was responsible for system design as well as the writing and editing of User and Technical Documentation for those systems. Don also at times supervised on-site system conversions. He was always eager to relate stories of how in 1987-88 while on temporary assignment with the Fiduciary Trust Company, he worked on the 94th Floor of the South Tower at the former World Trade Center in New York City.

Don moved to Roswell in 1994 and settled into partial retirement. For five years thereafter, he continued working as an Independent Consultant from a computer-based home office. Fully retired by 2004, Don moved to new Senior Housing in Las Cruces.

A strong supporter of the military and of veterans affairs, at his death Don was proudly a member of the U.S. Air Force Association. He was also a Charter Sponsor of the new Air Force Memorial recently erected near the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and dedicated in 2006. In both Roswell and Las Cruces, Don was also a contributing supporter of the Alzheimers Association of New Mexico.

A bachelor all his life, Don was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by on sister, Jeanne Tomas Pagel, by a nephew, a niece, and three cousins.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com
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