Elaine Gustafson

Elaine L. Gustafson, age 78, of Rochester, Minnesota went home to be with her heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ on May 1st, 2025. She was surrounded by family and friends as she passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She was born on October 16, 1946, in Ada, Minnesota, the daughter of two loving Christian parents, Anton, and Ella (née Ragé) Dahl. Elaine's great grandfather Hans Olsen Dahl was one of northwest Minnesota's earliest settlers, arriving in Norman County in the 1870's. Elaine was the youngest of 7 children. At the age of 14, her parents died within a week of each from different cardiovascular events. Her sister, Luverne, and her brother-in-law, Kenneth Hviding took her in and treated her as a daughter. They provided a wonderful Christian home for her. She was united in marriage to J. Paul Gustafson on August 25, 1967, at Crookston Covenant Church in Crookston, Minnesota. They had a wonderful marriage that lasted for 57 years. She knew that she would not have met her future husband, had her parents not passed away when they did.

Elaine graduated from Crookston Central High School and the Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing. She worked at Bethesda Hospital as a licensed practical nurse. After her marriage, she worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota while her husband finished his bachelor's degree. She moved to Rochester, Minnesota when her husband took a mathematics teaching job with the Rochester Public Schools. In a bit of irony, algebra was not her favorite subject in school, and she ended up marrying a math teacher who taught courses in algebra and statistics.

She was a wonderful example of love, faith, hope, and charity. Kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and compassion were her hallmarks in life. Elaine was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness to God. Elaine delighted in playing a significant role in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth of her grandchildren. She enjoyed listening to Christian music, playing the piano, reading, basket making, antiquing, refinishing furniture, needlepoint crafts, and spending time with her grandchildren (especially playing ping pong!) One of her greatest loves was traveling with family throughout the United States visiting national parks and historical sites. Elaine will always be known for her sweet spirit and beautiful smile.

She accepted Christ as her personal savior in her pre-teens and had an unwavering faith in God. As a teenager at the Crookston Covenant Church, she served as the pianist and the organist, and was also an accompanist for several traveling musicians, including Edward Menaldino. She was a prayer warrior and a longtime member of Rochester Covenant Church. Although she was never in the forefront of church activities, she volunteered her time and talents in serving in the kitchen, the office, the nursery and chaperoning youth group events. Friends and family came to know and cherish her gentle spirit and her steadfast faith in the Lord.

The family wishes to thank the phenomenal staff at Charter House and the Mayo Clinic for the care she has received during her lifetime. And a very special thank you to the staff of Mayo Clinic Hospice for walking alongside our family in Elaine's last days.

Survivors include Paul, her husband and best friend of over 57 years, daughters Carol (Pastor Dan) Springer of Pender, Nebraska, and daughter Jan (Steve) Gatzke of Rochester, son Dr. Michael (Arwen) of Scottsdale, Arizona, and brother Jerry (Jewel) Dahl of Ulen, Minnesota. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Joshua, Jordan, Hannah (Tavish Kinkead), and Hope Springer, Benjamin, Annika (Cory Balmes), Lydia and Miles Gustafson, and Amaya and Weston Gatzke. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Anton, and Ella Dahl, two sisters, Dorothea Mae Dahl, and Luverne Hviding, and three brothers, David, Leland, and Alan Dahl.

A memorial and celebration of life will be held on July 12 at Rochester Covenant Church, the time has not been determined. Please check on ranfranzandvinefh.com for further updates or to share a special memory or condolence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Samaritan's Purse, Billy Graham Ministries or Charter House Benevolent Fund, in honor of Elaine.