Mary Helen was born September 15, 1934, in Fingal, ND to George and Alice (Dighton) Gustafson. She was named after her late grandmother Mary Dighton of Fargo, ND. Mary Helen was raised on the Gustafson homestead farm with her brother Jim and sister Dorothy for a short time. They moved to Fargo and Detroit Lakes, MN where she attended school. There she became an accomplished classical pianist and aspiring student. She also enjoyed keeping house and gardens for her working mother. Mary graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1952. She attended Gustavous Adolphus College for a semester before deciding to enter St. Luke's Nursing School in Duluth, MN, from which she graduated with a degree as an R.N. She married in 1956 and eventually became the mother to 6 loving children. Mary was commended for her devoted volunteer work with the local chapter of The Cancer Society. She loved her church family at Trinity Lutheran Church in Duluth. Mary derived a great sense of joy and friendship tending to her grandparent-in-laws, Ray and Roe Skelton of Proctor, MN on their dairy farm as she taught her children the value of rural farm living. She became a neighborhood mom, tending over the young and elderly. Mary was a devoted and courageous mother, sister, spouse, daughter, neighbor and nurse.
Mary Helen was born September 15, 1934, in Fingal, ND to George and Alice (Dighton) Gustafson. She was named after her late grandmother Mary Dighton of Fargo, ND. Mary Helen was raised on the Gustafson homestead farm with her brother Jim and sister Dorothy for a short time. They moved to Fargo and Detroit Lakes, MN where she attended school. There she became an accomplished classical pianist and aspiring student. She also enjoyed keeping house and gardens for her working mother. Mary graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1952. She attended Gustavous Adolphus College for a semester before deciding to enter St. Luke's Nursing School in Duluth, MN, from which she graduated with a degree as an R.N. She married in 1956 and eventually became the mother to 6 loving children. Mary was commended for her devoted volunteer work with the local chapter of The Cancer Society. She loved her church family at Trinity Lutheran Church in Duluth. Mary derived a great sense of joy and friendship tending to her grandparent-in-laws, Ray and Roe Skelton of Proctor, MN on their dairy farm as she taught her children the value of rural farm living. She became a neighborhood mom, tending over the young and elderly. Mary was a devoted and courageous mother, sister, spouse, daughter, neighbor and nurse.
Inscription
Mary Helen Gustafson Johnson
Sept. 15, 1934 - Feb. 15, 1976
Gravesite Details
Additional information provided by W.L. Higgins (#47957035).
