Adeline Brickson

Madison

Adeline Brickson, age 98 of Madison, died Thursday, August 3, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital after a brief illness.

Born Adeline Elizabeth Kong on June 25, 1919 in Hannaford, ND, she later moved with her family to a farm near Stoughton, Wisconsin. Adeline and her older brother Everett graduated together from Stoughton High School in 1938. Both had needed to take time off to help on the farm. In addition to working alongside her brothers in the field, Adeline assumed the care of the house and of their mother who was bed-ridden for two years.

After marrying Lloyd Brickson, Adeline moved to Madison, where she lived for the rest of her life. Lloyd was the love of her life and their love and affection were inspirational.

She was a crossing guard for the city of Madison for 25 years and when she'd meet students she'd crossed 50 years earlier, they'd still call her "mom." She was a very hard worker and never missed a day in all that time. One summer while crossing the kids at B.B. Clarke Beach she noticed that a parked truck had started to roll down the steep hill towards the kids and the beach. She jumped in the truck, put on the brakes and prevented a calamity. She loved garage sales and managed 5 properties by herself after her husband Lloyd passed away.

She had three daughters, Sharon, Connie and Debra (Debe). She loved them unconditionally and was a strong role model of kindness and independence. She enjoyed travel even in her later years, often accompanying Connie or Debe on their business trips. She was proud of her roots in Norway and went there twice with her daughters. She was a "trooper" and was up for just about any adventure as long as it involved family. Even at 97, she took a helicopter ride with her grandsons, Sam and Joe, who had surprised her with the experience as their birthday present to her.

Adeline ("Addie") was fiercely independent and opinionated and lived alone until she was nearly 96, still mowing the grass and shoveling the snow around her beloved house on the east side of town where she would sit on her porch as the matriarch of the neighborhood. Adeline made friends easily. With most of them she remained friends for a lifetime. She was a great dancer! She was known as the BEST pie baker! She cared deeply about her neighbors, especially Barbara Rae Wesley whom she lovingly referred to as her 4th daughter.

Adeline was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. As a child, she attended Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church and School. She was an avid reader, often reading 3 books a week, until her eyesight deteriorated in her early 90s. She was known all over Madison for her pie baking.

She was a wonderful mother, incredibly supportive, a great confidante, and generous to a fault. She was proud of anything her daughters did, and she thought the sun rose and set on them. She was not only their mother but their best friend.

She adored her grandchildren: Sarah, with whom she had a very strong bond since her birth and whose love, devotion and visits, especially in her later years, gave Adeline such joy; Jesse, who had a special place in her heart and whom she was so proud of, and bragged about as an accomplished musician, and Calvin, who she felt was so sensitive and kind and was such a good writer and wonderful athlete and who gave her two very special gifts; little Sadie and Otis. She adored Sam and Joe, whom she called "my boys" and who were her true soul-mates!

Adeline and "her boys" were inseparable, especially on Friday nights when they never missed taking her to a fish fry at the VFW. They were a constant at her bedside through every time of sickness. They spent time with her every day and were with her when she passed. She lived for her family and fought so-o-o hard not to leave them.

We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to Towneley Pearson, best friend of the Rahder family, who helped pull our mother through many difficult times during the past few years. His selfless love and support meant so much to us and Adeline adored him.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, her parents, Mabel and Ole Kong, her brother Orlin and Arlene his wife, who was Adeline's dearest friend, her brother Everett Merrill and his wife Marge, her brother Lyle, whom she saw nearly every day until his death, her sister-in-law Barbara, and Margaret Lacy, her very special friend across the street.

She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Kong Mills (Don), Connie Brickson (Michael Zarin) and Debra Brickson (Max Rahder), by her adored grandchildren, Sarah Karls (Seth Rutenberg), Jesse Mills (Rieko Aizawa), Calvin Zarin (Raquel), and Sam and Joe Rahder who helped her fight to the end, and by her great-grandchildren, Sadie and Otis Zarin.

She leaves an empty space in our hearts that will never be filled. She was loved as much as anyone was loved and was truly the most caring and generous mother, grama and mana. Her love and acceptance are truly inspirational.

We would like to thank her wonderful Dean doctors: Dr. J. Wood, Dr. D. Neuninghoff and Dr. R. Kim.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Western Koshkonong Church, 2633 Church Street in Cottage Grove. Visitation will take place from 3-4 p.m. and the service will be held at 4pm. A light luncheon will follow at the church. Memorials in her name may be sent to St. Mary's Adult Day Care at 2440 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704.

Please share your memories with Adeline's family.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434