Marian Gustafson

Marian Gustafson, age 93, died peacefully in hospice care at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD, on Friday July 4, 2025. 

Memorial Service will be held Friday July 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Colton SD, with Pastor Susan Jennys officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service at 11:00 AM at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. 

Visitation with family present will be Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 5-7 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids SD.

Marian Adele (Bishop) Gustafson was born near Hurley SD on April 21, 1932, the daughter of Fred and Lois (Powers) Bishop. She grew up on the family farms in the Davis and Hurley area, attending school in the Reiman and Hurley School Districts. The family included brothers Ranald and Kenton, and her sister Phyllis.

Marian graduated from the Hurley High School in May 1950. That fall she enrolled at South Dakota State College. She graduated with a Home Economics degree in 1954. Her first teaching job was as a Home Economics teacher at Hudson SD High School for one year.

While in college, she met Marvin Gustafson, a farm boy from Dallas SD who also attending college in Brookings majoring in agriculture and enrolled in Air Force ROTC.

Marvin married Marian Bishop in Hurley SD on July 25, 1955. They lived in Sault Ste Marie Michigan for two years while Marvin served in the Air Force at a radar base. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1957, Marvin and Marian moved to Dallas to farm with his father Carl. Besides raising row crops and hay, they also raised cattle and hogs. Marian taught Home Economics at Gregory High School for four years before they started their family. During their time at Dallas, Marvin also was a rural mail carrier for over 35 years.

Marian was always busy as a farm wife and mother. She helped with the livestock including the chickens, always tended a good sized garden, and was a master at canning vegetables and was a wonderful baker and cook. She was also a very good seamstress creating clothes for the family along with tackling the less glamorous chore of mending. Marian served as a 4-H Club leader and Achievement Days judge, a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church, Rural Letter Carriers’ Auxiliary, Gideon’s Auxiliary, and was a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star.

Marvin and Marian had their retirement auction in June 2008 and moved to Colton SD to be closer to family, leaving the farm after nearly 52 years.

Marian Gustafson died in hospice care at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls on Friday July 4, 2025, at the age of 93 years, 2 months and 11 days. She is survived by her two children, John (Anna) Gustafson of Sioux Falls SD, and Lois (Matt) Vogel of Colton SD; six grandchildren, Daniel Gustafson, Chelsea (Matt) Sorensen, Christina (Eric) Ardis, Catherine Vogel, Jacob Vogel, and Elizabeth Vogel; and two great grandchildren: Cora Sorensen and Andrew Ardis. 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, Huntley Thelen and Colter Thelen. She is also survived by her brother Kenton Bishop of Huntsville AL, her sisters-in-law: Gladys (Lantz) of Omaha NE and Irene (Studenberg) of Eugene OR, along with many nieces and nephews.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband of over 67 years Marvin, her parents Fred and Lois Bishop, brother Ranald Bishop, sister Phyllis Jensen, brothers-in-law Bob Studenberg, Harvey Lantz, Richard Jensen, and two sisters-in-law both named Jean Bishop.

Memorials may be directed to the Colton United Methodist Church.