Middle River
- Marion Gusa, 75, died Thursday, November 2, 2000 at Golden Oaks
Nursing Home in 
Hermantown.
Funeral services were held on Monday November 6 at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Rev. Jay Borchert officiating. Lois Peterson was the organist, and vocalists were Lois Peterson, Lois Anderson and Barb Geer. Special music was also provided by Stacie Selnesand Lindsay Smith. Korin Jonland presented a reading.
Casketbearers were Henry Poehler, Spencer Selnes, Wyatt Smith, Christopher McPherson, Guy Becker, Kyle Jonland, Michael Burkholder, Christopher Donica and Joseph Gusa. Honorary casketbearers were Marion's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment was in First Lutheran Cemetery in Middle River with Collins Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Marion Lucille Backlund was born on April 11, 1925 at Holt, the daughter of Ole and Inga (Olson) Backlund. She grew up at Holt and graduated from Newfolden High School in 1943. She was baptized and confirmed at Nazareth Lutheran Church at Holt. For a brief time, she worked at Ben Franklin in Thief River Falls.
On December 5, 1943, Marion was united in marriage to Raymond Gusa at Nazareth Lutheran Church. Since their marriage, the couple had lived and farmed in Spruce Valley township of Marshall county near Middle River.
Marion was a long-time member of First Lutheran Church where she was active in Sunday school, Lutheran League, Ladies Aide, quilting and serving as a church delegate. In 1996, she was named Outstanding Senior Citizen for the State of Minnesota. She served on the Marshall County Group Homes board of directors and as vice president of the board of directors of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Marion was president and secretary of the Marshall County Council on Aging and president and vice president of the Northwest Chapter of the Minnesota Senior Federation. She was vice president of Branch 8129 of Lutheran Brotherhood and was a Lutheran Brotherhood fraternal leader at First Lutheran Church in Middle River. She was president of the Holt Keenagers senior citizens group and was also a member of the Middle River Seniors and Middle River Community Club.
Marion especially enjoyed her family, often traveling to visit her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting and had made quilts for all of her family members.
Survivors include her husband, Ray; a son, William (Diane) of Southlake, Texas; five daughters, Joan (Verdell) Anderson of Nevis, Sharon (Wayne) Smith of Warroad, Catherine Burkholder of Etowah, N.C., Carolyn (Terry) Miller of Barron, Wisc. and Martha (Stephen) Jonland of Proctor; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Oliver of Fairbanks, Alaska; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Bertha; and three brothers, Irvin, Lloyd and Kenneth. A00003B2000NV11