Marvin Virgil Gustafson

DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST, PLEASE NOTE TIME AND DATE CHANGE FOR MARVIN'S FUNERAL AND VISITATION.

Marvin Gustafson, age 91, died in his residence at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids SD, surrounded by his family on Wednesday February 15, 2023.  Services will be held Tuesday, February 21, at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Colton SD, with Pastor Susan Jennys officiating.  Visitation with family present will be Monday, February 20 from 5:30 – 7 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids.  Memorials may directed to Gideons International.

Marvin Virgil Gustafson was born at Dallas SD on June 1, 1931, the son of Carl and Zella (Lewis) Gustafson.  He grew up on the family farm east of Dallas with his sisters Gladys and Irene.  They were kept busy on the farm, and one of Marvin’s early childhood memories was helping in the care of the huge garden, including picking potato bugs and throwing them in cans of used waste oil, to which this depression era enterprise paid him 5 cents a can.  He started driving tractors and doing fieldwork at a young age, and was delegated some terribly dirty and dusty jobs at threshing time that brought allergic reactions that typically he had to, in his words:  “wheeze, scratch, and just tough it out”.

Marvin graduated from the Dallas SD Independent High School on May 18, 1949 in a class of nine.  That fall he enrolled at South Dakota State College, where classes were considerably larger and course content much deeper than what he had experienced up to this time.  College life presented many challenges to the farm boy from Dallas, but he persevered through it all.  During his time in college, he made many friendships through his classes, dormitory life, Air Force ROTC, and at his part time job in the student union.  He always valued good friendships.  One acquaintance that later bloomed marvelously was with a girl from Hurley SD majoring in Home Economics, named Marian Bishop.

Marvin graduated from SDSC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture on June 8, 1953.  In addition, he was commissioned as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He entered active duty during the Korean War as a Communications Officer at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, later served at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and was finally stationed at a radar base in Sault Ste Marie Michigan. Marvin was honorably discharged with the rank of 1 ^st Lieutenant on March 11, 1956.

Marvin married Marian Bishop in Hurley SD on July 25, 1955, and celebrated their 67 ^th wedding anniversary this past July.  Upon receiving his discharge from the Air Force, Marvin and Marian returned to Dallas to farm with his father Carl.  Besides raising row crops and hay, they raised cattle and hogs.  Marvin and Marian had their retirement auction in June 2008 and moved to Colton SD to be closer to family, leaving the farm after 52 years.  During their time at Dallas, Marvin also was a rural mail carrier for over 35 years serving from the Dallas and later Gregory Post Offices.  At one time his mail route had him servicing patrons in Gregory, Tripp, and Lyman counties all in one day.   Marvin was proud of the fact for all the years and all the miles he travelled-, he was accident free for his entire career.

Marvin was a life-long member of the Methodist Church and relied on his faith and trusted in the Lord throughout his entire life, especially during his bouts with cancer and heart disease. He was a member of several organizations including but not limited to the SD Rural Carriers Assn, Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Lions Club, Gideons, and the National Assn of Retired Federal Employees.

Marvin Gustafson died in his residence at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids SD, surrounded by his family on Wednesday February 15, 2023, at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 14 days.  He is survived by his wife Marian, their two children, John (Anna) Gustafson and Lois (Matt) Vogel; six grandchildren, Daniel Gustafson, Chelsea (Matt) Sorensen, Christina Vogel, Catherine Vogel, Jacob Vogel, and Elizabeth Vogel.  Special bonus grandchildren include Jesse (Ashley) Atteberry, Brandon Atteberry, and Jasmine (Dan) Thelen, and bonus great grandchildren include Michael Atteberry, Blair Atteberry, Emma Thelen, Harper Thelen, and Huntley Thelen.  He is also survived by his sisters: Gladys (Lantz) of Omaha NE and Irene (Studenberg) of Eugene OR, brother-in-law Kenton Bishop of Huntsville AL, along with many nieces and nephews.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents Carl, Zella, step mother Marie, uncle and aunt Paul and Lillian Gustafson, brothers-in-law Bob Studenberg, Harvey Lantz, Richard Jensen, Ranald Bishop, sister-in-law Phyllis Jensen, and two sisters-in-law both named Jean Bishop.