Marvin Gustafson

Funeral services for Marvin Gustafson were held on, Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Colton, SD, with Pastor Susan Jennys officiating. Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

Marvin Virgil Gustafson was born at Dallas, SD, on June 1, 1931, to 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 care for the huge garden. He started driving tractors and doing fieldwork at a young age, and was delegated some terribly dirty and dusty jobs at threshing time.

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 was 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 friends through his classes, dormitory life, Air Force ROTC, and part-time job in the student union. He always valued good friendships. One acquaintance that later bloomed was with a girl from Hurle, 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 2nd 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 1st Lieutenant on March 11, 1956.

Marvin married Marian Bishop in Hurley SD on July 25, 1955, and celebrated their 67th 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, and all the years and all the miles he traveled, he was accident free his entire career.

Marvin was a lifelong 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 National Assn. of Retired Federal Employees.

Marvin Gustafson, age 91, died in his residence at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids, SD, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Marian; 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; bonus grandchildren: Jesse (Ashley) Atteberry, Brandon Atteberry, and Jasmine (Dan) Thelen; five bonus great-grandchildren; sisters: Gladys (Lantz) of Omah, 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 and Zella; step-mother Marie; uncle and aunt Paul and Lillian Gustafson; brothers-in-law: Bob Studenberg, Harvey Lantz, Richard Jensen, and Ranald Bishop; sister-inlaw Phyllis Jensen; and two sisters-in-law both named Jean Bishop.