Paul Gust,

Paul H. Gust, Jr., after a long illness with Multiple Sclerosis, died on Monday, October 29, 2007 on his 76th birthday. He was a resident of the Pioneer Retirement Community in Fergus Falls for ten years. He was born to Paul and Marion (Peterson) Gust in Breckenridge, MN on October 29, 1931. At that time the family lived in Dwight, ND, then maintained their residence in Henning, and lastly in Fergus Falls. Paul attended public school in Fergus Falls where special awards came his way. He was an all around athlete in four sports and was named to the National Athletic Honor Society. Upon graduation he attended the University of Minnesota where he received a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the Phi Kappa PSI Fraternity. On September 8, 1951, he was joined in marriage to Delaine Brevig by the Rev. C. K. Preus at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. The couple moved to Minneapolis, where Paul continued his education. Upon returning to Fergus, he managed the grain elevator in Underwood. He then became owner/manager of the Foxhome Grain Co. In 1974 he retired from the grain business and started Gust Agri-management, a consulting firm, in downtown Fergus Falls, and eventually his health forced him to retire. Paul was active in civic organizations. He served on the Fergus Falls School Board for two terms and was a representative for the Minnesota State High School League. He was instrumental in forming the Quarterback Club and served as the first president. In 1990 he was inducted into the Fergus Falls Sports Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Fergus Falls Jaycees and the Elks Club. Paul loved hunting and ice fishing with his two sons and was especially fond of jazz music and supporting the arts. Paul will always be remembered as an honorable, faithful and courageous man who was an inspiration to everyone he touched. In addition to his own adversity, his greatest loss was the death of his son, David, who died of cancer in 1975 at the age of 16. He is survived by his wife, Dee; daughters: Dana (Hap) Carr of Washington DC, and Paula (Keith) Laugen of Tomah, WI; his son, Jonathan Gust of St. Paul, MN; five grandchildren: Kerry, Jackie, Abby, Madeleine and Vidar; one great-grandchild, Landon; his mother, Marion Gust, of the Pioneer Retirement Community; his sister, Joan (Gordy) Bakken of Fergus Falls; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, David, and his father, Paul Sr. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, November 10, 2007 at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Saul Stensvaag and Chaplain Harry Olson Interment: Private family interment at First Lutheran North Cemetery Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com