Evelyn Gustafson

Evelyn Gustafson, 98 of Mobridge and formerly of Bristol died Saturday March 16, 2013 at Golden Living Center in Mobridge. Her funeral will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday March 21, 2013 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol. Spring Burial will be in the Bristol Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 4 – 7 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Evelyn Jeanette Hoff was born on Tuesday November 24, 1914 to John and Sophie (Hjella) Hoff on a farm north of Bristol, South Dakota. She was baptized December 25, 1914 at Bergen Lutheran Church. The family moved to Bristol when Evelyn was seven years of age. She was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Evelyn graduated from Bristol High School in 1934. On June 6, 1937 Evelyn was united in marriage to Clarence H. Gustafson at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, to this union two children were born. Following their marriage they made their home on the family farm northeast of Bristol and farmed with his parents until their deaths. They continued to farm until their retirements in 1977. In 1976 they built their home in Bristol and resided there until November 2003 when they moved to Mobridge to live with their daughter, Gwendolyn. Clarence passed away February 20, 2009. Evelyn moved to the Golden Living Center in Mobridge September 30, 2010. Evelyn was a faithful member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church when they merged with Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was active in the work of the church and had served as Ladies Aid president for several years, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, LDR Advisor, sang in the choir, women’s quartet, and organized the cherub choir in 1960. She also served as president of the Bristol PTA. Through the years Evelyn loved to cook and bake. Her hobbies included sewing, crocheting, and crafting. She was a Minnesota Twins fan, enjoyed politics, reading, traveling, and while living with her daughter she enjoyed watching the boats on the river. Evelyn was a kind and loving mother and grandmother; she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all that knew her. Grateful for having shared in her life are her daughters, Gwendolyn Grad of Mobridge, SD and Shirley (Curtis) Swedlund of Rochester, MN, one brother George (Yvonne) Bennett of Rapid City, SD. Other survivors include six grandchildren, Rhonda (Pete) Frier of Melbourne, FL, Patti (Mike) Stene of Shawnee, KS, Lori (Todd) Hanson of Rapid City, SD, Terry (Bonnie) Lundberg of Aberdeen, SD, Jon (Patty) Grad of Andover, MN, Alana (Nate) Bauer of Mobridge, SD, seventeen great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, two step great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence of 71 years, two sisters, one brother, a granddaughter Renee Lundberg, and a son-in-law Raymond Grad.