Gloria Jean Gustafson, 71

March 06, 2023
Gloria Jean Gustafson Gloria Jean Gustafson

Gloria Jean Gustafson, 71, of Greenbush, MN, passed peacefully in her daughter’s arms on Friday, February 24th, 2023 after a heroic 10-year-fight with mantle cell lymphoma. Gloria Jean Gorsuch was born February 16th, 1952 in Karlstad, MN to William and Ragna (Haugen) Gorsuch. She was the seventh of ten children. She grew to womanhood near Karlstad and was raised in the Lutheran faith. In the spring of 1970, Gloria met and soon married the love of her life, Ray “Sparky” Gustafson of Greenbush, MN. They married on September 1st, 1970 and the couple made their home on the Gustafson family farm. Their marriage was quickly blessed with a daughter, Celeste, soon to be followed by another daughter, Brenda. While the girls were little, Gloria worked on the family farm. In 1975, she went to work at Northern Pride in Thief River Falls, MN, where she remained for 13 years until she embarked on a new adventure at Polaris in Roseau, MN, where she worked for the next 21 years. After retiring from Polaris, she stayed busy helping at the Greenbush School kitchen and loved seeing all kids. Gloria was a very hard worker all her and was always helping whoever and wherever she could.

Gloria loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and going on adventures with her best friend,

Renette Engen. Gloria enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word finds, and mowing her lawn. Gloria spent a lifetime caring for four-legged creatures of any shape and form. Her love of animals was like none other.

She is survived by her daughter, Celeste (Steve) Engen, of Karlstad, MN; grandchildren Carrie Engen (David Boser), and Justin (Katie) Wojciechowski; great-grandchildren Cameron Boser and Ava Wojciechowski; brothers, Raymond (Carolyn) Gorsuch, of Salem, OR, Kenneth (Helen) Gorsuch, of Yakima, WA, David Gorsuch, of Roseau, MN and Earl (Betty) Gorsuch, of Halma, MN; sister Mary (Rick) Daigre, of Grafton, ND; as well as several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; by her parents; three brothers, Larry Dean, Norman, and Ervin, and a sister, Linda.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, March 10th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the United Free Lutheran Church, Greenbush, MN. Interment will be in Bethlehem Cemetery, rural Greenbush. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. Austin Funeral Home, Hallock.

Austin Funeral Chapel