Dorothy M. Hustead, was born August 29, 1904, in Colman, South Dakota, the daughter of Charles and Margaret Quinn Rush.  She graduated from Colman High School and attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority.  It was there that she met her husband Theodore E. "Ted" Hustead of Aurora, Nebraska.  Dorothy graduated from the University of Nerbaska with her degree in English, and taught English and dramatics at Cathedral High School in Sioux Falls.

The young Husteads lived and worked in several South Dakota towns - Colman, Dell Rapids, Sioux Falls, Oldham, and Canova - before purchasing the small drug store in Wall, South Dakota in December of 1931.  It was Dorothy who, one hot Sunday afternoon in July of 1936, came up with the idea of signs advertising "Free Ice Water" along the highway.

Dorothy and Ted's marriage was blessed with four children: Dwight William "Bill" Hustead of Wall, South Dakota, Mary Elizabeth (Bottum) and Catherine Ann (Roe), both of whom are living in Los Angeles, California, and Charles Bell Hustead, who resides in Topeka, Kansas.  Throughout the years, Dorothy worked steadfastly with Ted as a full partner at Wall Drug, acting as one of the floor managers and in charge of receipts.  She was on the board of directors of Wall Drug, Inc. until her death.

Dorothy was a member of the Society of Mayflower descendants; the Wall Book Club, of which she was one of the founders; and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.  She, along with Ted, received the first Ben Black Elk Award in 1979, for excellence in the travel industry.  November 12, 1988, was proclaimed by South Dakota's Governor George Mickelson "Dorothy and Ted Hustead Day" and they were honored by the Wall Community at a special dinner.  They city erected a plaque: "To honor Dorothy and Ted Hustead founders of Wall Drug.  Their deep sense of civic responsibility, outstanding service in the development and welfare of this city and state, their compassion and kindness to the individuals of the community and their example of hard work since their arrival in 1931 will serve as an inspiration to all future generations."

Dorothy herself once summed up her philosophy: "I believe any person with patience, faith, humility and courage can, by hard work and enthusiasm, following a plan, succeed."

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 69 years, Ted; two sons and their wives, Bill and Marjorie Hustead and Charles and Esther Hustead; two daughters, Mary Bottum and Catherine Roe and her husband Tom; eighteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Brekhus of San Bernardino, California, and Betty Morris of Columbia, Missouri; one brother, Charles Rush and his wife, Evelyn, of Anchorage, Alaska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Margaret Rush; two brothers, John and William Rush; one grandson, Jon Hustead; and a son-in-law, Ros Bottum.

Mass of Christian Burial
Wednesday, November 8, 1995
10:00 a.m.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Bob Baden

Music
Mary Hustead-Bottum - Organist
Terry Karrels - Vocalist

Ushers
Kenneth Hansen - Norbert Sebade
Wesley Welsh - Bill Bielmaier

Active Pallbearers (All Grandsons)
Richard Hustead - Roddy Bottum
Theodore H. Hustead - Michael Roe
Patrick Hustead - William Roe
Matthew Hustead

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota