Mary Alfstad

Mary Johanna (Madsen) Alfstad, 79, of Centennial Colorado, passed away on February 26, 2022. Mary Jo was born in Stillwater, Minnesota on March 24, 1942. She graduated from Stillwater High School in 1961. Mary Jo was very proud of her Danish heritage. Her father moved to the United States from Denmark in the early 1900’s and her Danish mother was the first generation born in the US.

Mary Jo was married to Larry Madsen on August 4, 1961; they were married for 18 years. They shared three sons: Brian, Jeff and Marty. They divorced in 1979.

Mary Jo married Marlin Alfstad in November of 1979. She was an active stepmother and grandmother to his 5 children and grandchildren. They were married for 35 years until his death in 2015.

Mary Jo was a self-employed childcare provider for 40 years. She enjoyed gardening, card games, and reading books as well as collecting Danish Bing & Grondahl Christmas plates which she proudly displayed throughout her house. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow. She adored children, and truly loved caring for her daycare kids. They brought her great joy.

Mary Jo was confirmed in the Lutheran church as a teen and continued her journey with Christ in the Baptist church with her young family. They lived on a hobby farm in Wisconsin for part of her early married life and then moved to Colorado in 1977.

Mary Jo is survived by two sons; Brian (Leann) Madsen of Hiram, GA, and Jeff (Keri) Madsen of Littleton, CO, five stepchildren; Melonie Hattell of Denver, CO, Ross Alfstad of Montrose, CO, Malinda (Scott) Priebe of Centennial, CO, Renae Alfstad of Denver, CO, Michael (Kelley) Alfstad of Aurora, CO, eight grandchildren; Katrina Lumby, Alex Schleeter, Tara King, Garrett Priebe, Zachery Madsen, Jacob Madsen, Dalton Priebe, and Camryn Alfstad, as well as six great grandchildren. Mary Jo has one remaining sibling: her brother Christ (Sandy) Madsen of Hudson, WI, and many friends.

Mary Jo is preceded in death by her husband Marlin Gene Alfstad, her son Marwood (Marty) Christian Madsen, her parents, Eleanor and Christ Madsen, her siblings Betty Skoog, Doris Adams, Ellen Anderson, and Carol Anderson.

The memorial service will be held at Ft Logan Cemetery on Friday April 22 at 11:00 am. Reverend Liza Stoltz Hanson of St Luke’s will be officiating. Mary Jo will be buried alongside her husband, Marlin Alfstad, as well as having some ashes brought to the West Denmark Cemetery in Luck, WI to be laid with family. A reception will immediately follow at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church located at 8817 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch 80129.  Additional staging details for Ft. Logan will be provided when available.