Obituary of Elvie Marilynn Gustafson

Elvie Marilynn Gustafson (nee Berggren), age 98, of Mahtomedi, Minnesota, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, her LORD & Savior, passed peacefully on October 23, 2020. Beloved wife of Phillip (deceased 2000). Mother of Pauline (Lars) Soderholm, Niwot, CO; Dale (Rita) Gustafson, Anoka, MN; Louise (Jonathan) Addington, Mahtomedi, MN; Darlene Gustafson, Anoka, MN; Also survived by 14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation beginning at 10:00AM, with Celebration of Life at 11:00AM on Monday, November 2, 2020 at First Evangelical Free Church, 2696 Hazelwood Street, Maplewood, Minnesota. Family service of interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Funeral services can be Livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/plVbckZUDAc. The family requests ALL ATTENDEES WEAR MASKS while inside the building and socially distance as possible, out of respect for others. Memorials preferred to First Evangelical Free Church, Maplewood. Elvie grew up in Minneapolis, the third child of first-generation Swedish immigrants. Her father, Andrew, was a mailman and her mother, Enny, a homemaker. The family attended The Swedish Tabernacle, later called First Covenant Church, Minneapolis. In her teenage years, Jesus Christ met her in a very special way, giving a wonderful assurance of salvation lasting through her life. She graduated from Washburn High School in 1940 and attended the University of Minnesota from 1944 to 1946. She loved her work at the on-campus Art Gallery in Northrup Auditorium. Elvie met Phillip at a roller-skating party with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She often said, “He was impressed that I was such a good skater and he skated with me the entire night!” They were married July 31, 1948, and blessed with children Pauline (Polly), Dale (Buff), Louise (Cookie) and Darlene (Dolly). Elvie and Phil lived in Golden Valley, creating a wonderful home of love, acceptance, and encouragement to know Jesus Christ in a personal way. The family enjoyed camping, board games, ping pong, tennis and music. Members of First Covenant Church, Elvie exercised her gift of hospitality and was involved in a variety of ministries including Ladies Day Out, Visitation Deaconess, Homesteaders Class and tutoring immigrant women in English. Elvie also enjoyed sewing, cross-stitch, crossword, sudoku and jigsaw puzzles, and Twins baseball. Elvie’s husband Phil passed into the arms of Jesus in 2000. She continued to live in the family home in Golden Valley until 2010. She then moved to Maplewood to be closer to family, living at Cardinal Pointe Senior Living Community until 2018, and has since lived with Louise, Jon and Jennifer in Mahtomedi. In these latter years, Elvie has lived a life of peace and joy, being positive and thankful, even in her physical decline. Second only to her relationship with God, family relationships were most important to Elvie. She prayed faithfully for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and desired for them to love God and know His Word. Elvie became a member of First Evangelical Free Church, Maplewood in her 90’s. She was a faithful student of the Bible and a daily prayer warrior for the needs of her extended family and for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ globally. Elvie included this song in her book “My Memoirs” … Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God, Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word. Reminders: All attendees are required to wear face coverings/masks at all times. Anyone with symptoms of illness (cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.) and/or anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 2 weeks should stay home. Thank You.