Maxine Gustafson

Maxine Gustafson, 98, of Dawson, MN passed away February 19, 2023 at the Dawson Care Center.

Maxine Ruth (Batteram) Gustafson was born October 30, 1924 in East Dubuque, IL to Henry and Gladys (Brauhn) Batteram. After graduating from East Dubuque High School, she began work as a bank teller. She met Charles Gustafson of Viking, MN in 1943 when he was at the University of Dubuque for Naval training, and they married after his service ended in 1946. They moved to Northfield, MN so Charles could finish his degree at St. Olaf, and then to Dawson, where he taught high school mathematics for 37 years, and she taught piano to generations of area children. She enjoyed tending her garden, and every fall she made and froze dozens of pies with the apples from their backyard tree so that she would always have something on hand to heat and serve when company came.  Maxine and Charles retired to Bella Vista, AR in 1995 to be near his brother (and not shovel so much snow). Several years after Charles’s death in 2004, Maxine returned to Dawson, where she felt most at home.

She is survived by her daughter, Joan Strom, and granddaughters Laura, Jennifer, and Kirsten.

Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson.