Yvonne Gustafson, of Dawson, died Thursday morning, October 11, 2012, at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson at the age of 84.
Visitation was Sunday, October 14, from 4-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson.
Funeral service was 1:00 PM, Monday, October 15, 2012, at the Dawson Covenant Church in rural Dawson with Pastor Erik Carlson officiating; Harold Palm gave a Remembrance and Cathy Haley read the scripture lessons; "100,000 Reasons" and "Soon" were accompanied on piano by Ardyce Thompson and on guitar by Pastor Erik Carlson; vocalist, Ben Gustafson sang "Amazing Grace;" pianist, Ardyce Thompson accompanied the congregation in singing “Children of the Heavenly Father;” and a vocal recording of "I Will Rise" was played. Tim Blue, Andy Palm, Curt Hed, Kevin Anderson, Jeff Thompson, Joe Mamer and Myron Rosendahl were casketbearers; Bonnie Gustafson sang "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" at the interment ceremony in the church cemetery.
Yvonne Viola Gustafson was born on July 6, 1928, in St. Cloud, Minnesota to John and Astrid Palm. She graduated from St. Cloud High School and went on to earn a 2 year teaching certificate from St. Cloud State University. She gained a four year certification through Southwest Minnesota State University, graduating with the charter class in 1971. She later earned her Master’s in Special Education from St. Cloud State University.
She was united in marriage to Curtis Gustafson on April 1, 1950, in St. Cloud. To this union three children were born: Lucia, Dwight, and Jon. They farmed in the Canby and Dawson area ending up on the Gustafson family homestead near Canby in 1966. After Curtis’s death, Yvonne moved to Faribault where she taught Special Ed at Jefferson Elementary for many years retiring in 2000. In 2006 she returned to the Dawson area. Yvonne has been in the Johnson Memorial Care Center for the past 6 months.
Yvonne was a member of the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and Swedish Club. She enjoyed reading, needlework, traveling, flowers, visiting family and friends, and researching family history from Sweden. Because of her love for her Swedish heritage she translated many letters sent from Sweden and compiled them in a book entitled Dear Tilda, Letters to the Homestead.
Yvonne was very active in the Dawson Covenant Church. There she sang in the choir, serving as Choir director at one time. She also taught Sunday School, and put on fabulous skits for wedding and bridal showers. She enjoyed singing in several trios. While in Faribault she sang in the choir and played in the Bell Choir.
She is survived by her daughter, Lucia of Dawson, and sons Dwight and his wife, Bonnie, of rural Canby, Jon and wife, Debra of Fort Myers, FL and a foster son, Tim Blue, of Granite Falls; 2 grandchildren, Benjamin and Amy Gustafson; 2 brothers, George Palm, and his wife, Deloris, of Baudette, and Harold Palm, and his wife, Barbara, of Rockford, IL.; sisters-in-law, Joan Hed and Helen Burrows; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Curtis, on June 17, 1974; her parents; brother, Steen Andersen, and sisters, Anne Brownell and Grace Hamilton.
Blessed be her memory.
Memorials are preferred to Grace Chritian Outreach Ministries and the Dawson Covenant Church.