E. Mildred Gustafson, 95, of Boise, ID and formerly of the Bisbee, Rock Lake, St.John, and Rolette ND areas passed away Saturday, May 30, 2009 at St. Luke’s Hospital of Boise. 

 

Mildred was born to Thilde “Tillie” Oline (Solberg) Hookland and Lewis D. Hookland on a farm near Bisbee, ND on her father’s homestead, delivered by a neighboring midwife.

     She was a country girl who played house in the trees with her sister and checked the trap lines with her brother in the pasture.  She had a lifelong love of reading that began on the farm.  Whether she was tending cattle on horseback, or by kerosene lamp at her bedside, she could be found with a book in hand.  In her later years, there was always a stack of books and reading material next to her recliner in the living room. 

     Mildred attended grade school at country schools walking a mile or so in the warmer weather, and in a hack driven by her older brothers in the winter.  She attended eighth grade and high school in Bisbee, graduating in the class of 1932.  While in high school, she roomed in town with other country students. 

     After graduating, Mildred and her brothers, drove to Eugene, OR.  She found work in a cannery and later became a nanny to the children of a family who owned Chase Gardens.  She talked of traveling with the family to San Francisco in their Packard automobile, to attend the World’s Fair in the 1930’s.

     When World War II broke out, she felt a strong need to help in the “ war effort”, so she enlisted into the Cadet Nurses Corps.  She went into training at Sacred Heart General Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as an RN in 1946.  Mildred’s Cadet Nursing Corps duty stationed her at the Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, where she specialized in Psychiatric care and worked until the war ended.  She was released and she returned home to North Dakota where she began nursing at Rolla Community Hospital.  She met Lloyd “ Bennie” Gustafson and they were married August 1, 1950.  Their love lasted a lifetime, spending the rest of their years together until his death on July 22, 2008. 

     Mildred and Bennie lived and raised their two children, Robert and Vicki, in St. John until 1972, when they began a journey that took them to many different areas, meeting and making many close friendships which she recalled often.  When they retired, they alternated living near Robert’s and Vicki’s families.  After Bennie’s death, Mildred spent a few months with Vicki in California, and then moved into Bonaventure Place, a retirement center in Boise near Robert’s family until her sudden death caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm. 

     Mildred was an active member in many Lutheran churches where they were living, by attending worship services and Bible Class, teaching Sunday School, and helping in Women’s groups wherever needed.  She will always be kindly remembered by students in St. John, as their “school nurse”.  She created and directed the St. John youth center in the summer of 1966.  She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a member of the St. John American Legion Auxiliary.  Mildred and Bennie enjoyed many winters bowling on a couple’s league in Rolla.  She also joined a curling league in Rolla one winter. 

     Mildred always grew beautiful flowers inside and outside her home.  She loved to garden and fresh fruits in vegetables, canning and making jam and jelly.  Mildred was a kind, helpful person caring for her family members and others throughout her lifetime.  She was always willing to lend a hand, an ear, and her heart to all.  She loved the Lord,  read her bible daily and spent much time in thought and prayer.

Mildred is survived by her children whom she cherished and was so proud of:

Son: Robert Gustafson and his wife, Barbara Gaston, of Garden City, ID.  Daughter: Vicki (Gustafson) and her husband Brad Wood, of Hanford, CA.  Grandchildren:  The Joys of her heart ~  Melissa (Wood) and Sean Horne, Krista (Wood) and Chris Le, Kimberly (Wood) Depree, Solveig Gustafson, Avelina Gaston, Brede Gaston, Eamon Gustafson, Soren Gustafson.  Great-Grandchildren:  Whom she delighted ~  Zane Horne, Kiana Le, Natalia Dupree, Riordin Dupree, Leif Dupree.  Sister: Joyce (Hookland) Burley. Numerous nephews and nieces, great-nephews and nieces and cousins whom she held very dear.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Brothers: Sivert “Steve” Hookland, Silas “Bud” Hookland,  Berge Hookland.  Sisters: Theo “Toots” (Hookland) Bishop and Lillie (Hookland) Heddens.

 

  VISITATION  3 to 5pm Saturday June 6, 2009 with a 5pm Prayer Service all at the Dunnigan Dix Funeral Home of Cando, ND

 

FUNERAL  Monday June 8, 2009 at 11am at Bisbee Lutheran Church of Bisbee, ND

 

GATHERING Bisbee Lutheran Church following Funeral

 

MEMORIAL SERVICE  Monday June 8, 2009 at 6:00pm at the Mill Lake Lutheran Church of St. John

 

INTERMENT  6:30pm Monday at St. John’s Protestant Cemetery

 

GATHERING  Nate’s Place – Following Interment Service ~ Food, Fellowship, Photos, Music and Sharing of Memories