Crookston - Willard "Swede" Gustafson, 70, died Wednesday, November 24, 1999 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 27 at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston. Interment was in Oakdale Cemetery in Crookston.
Willard Eli Gustafson was born on May 5, 1929 in Mentor, the son of Otto N. and Laura May (Tice) Gustafson. He grew up in Mentor and graduated from high school there in 1947.
Swede drove a bus for 42 years. He owned and operated Northwest Trails, Inc. in Thief River Falls and Northwest Bees, Inc. which operated in northwest Minnesota. Most recently, he drove for Triangle Bus Lines in Grand Forks, ND, retiring in 1998.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Swede is survived by two daughters, Diane (Loren) Francis of Bagley and Julie (Jim) DuRose of Baudette; three sons, Greg Gustafson of Crookston, Scott Gustafson of St. Cloud and Paul Gustafson of Crookston; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Deloris (Walter) Lystrom of Lake Park; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one niece, Pamela Lystrom. A00003B1999DC01