Marian Gustafson

Marian Gustafson, age 87, of Grand Island, formerly of Phillips, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Tiffany Square in Grand Island.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, February 20th at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church north of Murphy. Pastor Barry McCormick will officiate. Interment will be in the Monroe Cemetery at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Tuesday at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: MARIAN GUSTAFSON

Marian Gustafson, the daughter of Rev. William and Ruth (Swanson) Westlund, was born October 10, 1920 near Phillips, Nebraska and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on February 16, 2008, at the age of 87.

Her father served several churches in Nebraska and then the family moved to Milaca, Minnesota where she graduated from high school. Following her graduation the family moved back to Phillips where her father served the Monroe Evangelical Free Church for the second time.

Prior to her marriage she worked as secretary for the Du Pont Company in Chicago, the State Insurance Department in Lincoln and for the Federal Government in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Marian was united in marriage to Stanley L. Gustafson on January 26, 1946 at Monroe Evangelical Free Church. Following their marriage they farmed in the Monroe Community until their retirement. They moved to Grand Island in 2004. Stanley passed away on January 4, 2005. Marian moved to the Primrose Retirement Community in 2007.

Marian was a member of the Monroe Evangelical Free Church where she served in several areas. Besides her family and church, she enjoyed leading a neighborhood Bible Study. She also enjoyed music and was part of a ladies’ trio that sang in their local church as well as at other churches and events in the area. Marian enjoyed reading and writing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, son, David, brothers, Marvin and Lester Westlund, sisters, Eleanor Arnquist and Rachel Olson and sister-in-law, Ann Gustafson.

Those left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Randall (Linda) Gustafson and Craig (Rachel) Gustafson all of Phillips; daughter, Joyce (Mark) Dunham of Lincoln; brother, Stanley Westlund of Brentwood, CA; sisters, Mildred Smith of Minneapolis, MN and Dorothy (Lionel) Barrett of Seattle, WA; 6 grandchildren, Rachelle (Trey) Swanson of Pella, IA, Kristin (Jesse) Keebler of Adams, Travis (Julie) Gustafson and Jaclyn Gustafson of Lincoln, Seth Dunham of Deerfield, IL and Ryan Dunham of Omaha; 3 great-grandchildren, Emma, Jack and Ethan Swanson; two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Eugene (Rae) Gustafson of Aurora and Delores (Rodney) Wendell of Axtell; and other family members and friends.