Marion Gust

Marion Evelyn Gust, 104, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls. She was born April 29, 1907, in Clitherall Township of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, the third of four children born to August and Bertha (Bjorness) Peterson. The family moved to a farm near Henning where she spent her growing up years. Upon graduation from Henning High School in 1927 she attended Park Region College in Fergus Falls. On March 1, 1930, she was united in marriage to Paul Gust in Fergus Falls. Together they raised two children. After their marriage they lived in Dwight, North Dakota and later moved back to Henning where she was bookkeeper for her husband’s grain elevator business. In the fall of 1942 they moved to Fergus Falls where they made their home until they retired, and then spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona and summers at Swan Lake. Marion was a life-long member of First Baptist Church (now the church’s oldest member), and was involved for years with the choir and ladies aid as well as teaching Sunday School. She and Paul were also very active in the Gideon organization. She was a member of the Gideon Auxiliary for 66 years. She was a wonderful mom and grandmother and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They have many stories of going bowling with Grandma Marion and the strikes she could make. She could spend hours tending to her flowers in her beautifully landscaped backyard. She was particularly proud of the fact that she mowed her yard until she was 90. Her favorite pastime was watching basketball games when Michael Jordan played. Her big disappointment was that he didn’t answer the letter she wrote to him. Marion was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul, who died in 1981; son, Paul Jr., who died in 2007; daughter-in-law, Dee, who died in 2008; grandson, David, who died in 1975; two sisters, Edna Foster and Gladys Danielson; and a brother, Arthur Peterson. Survivors include her daughter Joan (Gordy) Bakken of Fergus Falls; seven grandchildren: Dana (Hap) Carr, Paula (Keith) Laugen, Jonathan Gust; Kim (Lee) Bakken-Parr; Jody (John) Potts, Pam Sach and Paul (Robyn) Bakken; twelve great-grandchildren: Kerry Pierce, Jacki Rickert, Abby Laugen, Madeleine Carr, Vidar Zilliacus, Lauren Sach, Landon Sach, Sydney Bakken, Rachel Bakken, Luke Bakken, Nathan Potts, and Taylor Potts; and two great-great-grandchildren: Landon Pierce and Delaney Pierce. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Memorials are preferred to Crossroads Church, PioneerCare, or Lakeland Hospice. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the PioneerCare Center Service: 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the PioneerCare Celebration Center in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Ned Eerdmans and Chaplain Harry Olson Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.