Thief River Falls – Gloria Rustan, Thief River Falls, formerly rural Oklee, passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at Oakland Park Senior Living.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Oak Park Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Oak Park Cemetery, Deer Park Twp. Pennington County.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m., Friday, August 10, 2018 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, with a 7 p.m. prayer service and for one hour prior to the service at the church, Saturday.
Gloria Faye Rustan was born on October 5, 1932, in Grand Forks, ND to parents Oscar and Selma (Haaven) Lundeen. She was baptized at United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks and confirmed at Oak Park Lutheran Church in rural Oklee. She grew up on a farm northeast of Oklee where she attended country school then Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls where she graduated in 1950.
Gloria started dating Richard Rustan after he offered to give her a ride home from a Singer barn dance. They were married on October 12, 1952 and resided in a tiny house close to where they both grew up until they built a new home in 1960. They raised six children together until 1985 when Richard was killed in a tragic accident on their farm. Gloria continued to reside on the farm until January of 2015 when she moved to Greenleaf Assisted Living in Thief River Falls, where she resided until her death on August 2, 2018, at the age of 85 years and 10 months.
Gloria was employed at Consumers Co-op in Thief River Falls for a few years after high school then quit to become a full-time homemaker and mother. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children and their dolls.
Gloria was a wonderful cook and was known for her exceptional pancake breakfasts which she served every Saturday morning. This tradition continued even after her children left home and there was an open invitation to all family members who could attend. She also hosted every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday for the entire family right up to the time she moved into assisted living.
Gloria enjoyed playing cards, dancing and socializing with friends and family. She was a member of the Oak Park Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was active in the ladies aid.
Gloria is survived by her six children: Ronald (Judy) Rustan of Oklee; Jean (Robert) Halvorson of Goodridge; Glenda (Scott) Strand of Erskine; Janice (David) Odegaard of West Fargo; Sandra (Scott) Lucas of Shorewood; and Shari (Sergio) Palacios of Naples; 21 grandchildren: Ryan Rustan, Keli (Dan) Cox, Kimberly Douglas, Chancey (Laura) Halvorson, Cole (Katie) Halvorson, Amy Halvorson, Conrad Strand, Bradley Strand, Bailey (Zach) Hockert, Katie Odegaard, Margaret Lucas, Laura Lucas, Julia Lucas, Theodore Lucas, Savannah Palacios, Zachary Palacios, Alex Palacios, Isabel Palacios, Edward Palacios, Josiah Palacios and Rachel Palacios; and ten great-grandchildren: Elizabeth and William Rustan; Jaida, Elias and Brant Cox; Josephine and David Douglas; Trebor and Ellarie Halvorson; and Emmitt Halvorson. She is also survived by her sister Sharon (Edward) Larson of Oklee; brothers-in-law Elmer Rustan and Hilmer Rustan, sisters-in-law Evelyn Piepgras, Violet Ronne, Lillian (Phil) Hilgeman, Lyla Kimball and Dellys Nylec; as well as numerous other relatives.
Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Richard, sister Madonna Gunderson, and brothers-in-law Mickey Gunderson, Bennie Rustan, Edwin Rustan and Milan Rustan.
A00003B2018AG08