Lou Gustafson

Lou Ella R. Gustafson, age 85, of Faribault, MN, passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at Milestone Senior Living in Faribault.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home of Faribault, with Bernadette Tatge, pastoral minister of Divine Mercy Catholic Church, officiating. Entombment will be at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum in Faribault.

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Lou Ella Ruth was born on October 12, 1929 in LeCenter, MN, to Frank and Mary (Velishek) Rutt. She was raised and went to school in LeCenter. Lou Ella was married to Charles Haug in 1948. He died early in their marriage and she later married Rueben Hamann. Lou Ella was a homemaker for her seven children. After her youngest was off to school, she worked at McQuay's in Faribault for 18 years. On October 16, 1976 she was married to Harold Gustafson. The two often enjoyed dancing and traveling together. She was a member of the Faribault Eagle's Auxiliary and Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. Lou Ella volunteered her time delivering Meals-On-Wheels and at her church as a communion distributor and choir member.

She is survived by her husband, Harold Gustafson of Faribault; six children, Geraldine Cloutier of Arkansas, Constance (Ronnie) Raugh of Arkansas, Debra Shanahan of Wilmer, MN, Kim (Ken) Warner of Faribault, Mark Haug of Arkansas, and Scott (Sue) Hamann of Arkansas; Harold's children, Mike Graham of Arizona, Susan LaMotte of Rochester, Mark (Lori) Gustafson of Faribault, Jane (Mark) Whillock of Waseca, and Kevin (Sandy) Gustafson of Faribault; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings, Edison (Dorothy) Rutt of Waseca, Delores Bultman of Apple Valley, Donna (Clarence) Ginter of New Prague, Mary Lou (Abe) Chadderdon of Kansas, Beverly Rutt of Arizona, Jeannie (Henry) McGowan of Texas, and Gary (Shirley) Rutt of New Prague; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bernard (Mary) Gustafson of Tennessee, Judy (Lenny) Mahoney of Bloomington, George Gustafson of Faribault, and Robert (Marlene) Gustafson of Faribault; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her prior husbands, Charles Haug and Rueben Hamann; parents; daughter, Mary Kay Smith and husband, Jim, and their son, Patrick; grandsons, Randy Cloutier and Chris Cagle; step-son, Steve (Pam) Graham; siblings, Estellene Bastyr, Kenneth Rutt, and Francis Rutt; and sisters-in-law, Phyllis (Jim) Heine, and Anna Mae (Bob) Heine.