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Gust A. Larsonof Midland, South Dakota, died on Thursday, November 4, 1999
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Gust A. Larson was born October 1, 1918, at Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Oscar and Anna (Gilbertson) Erickson-Anderson.
His early childhood was spent in the Superior, Wisconsin, and St. Paul, Minnesota, areas. At the age of 12, he moved to Van Metre, South Dakota, where he made his home with his aunt, Betsy Nordin. He attended Van Metre Public School.
He later returned to St. Paul where he worked as a bus boy in a cafeteria. As a young man, he spent several years in the CCC Camp in northern Minnesota. In 1940, he began working for the Burlington Railroad stationed in St. Paul.
Gust was united in marriage to Lucy Bonhorst on October 7, 1941, on her parents' homestead near Van Metre.
In March of 1942, he entered the U.S. Marine Corp., and was among the first marines who landed on Guadalcanal which was one of the first offensive ground actions of World War II. In March of 1943, he left Guadalcanal, weighing 130 pounds, and headed to New Zealand. In the fall of 1943, he was part of the first wave of the assault on Bougainville. He was discharged in 1945 and returned to his job with the railroad in St. Paul.
In 1953, he purchased the Midland Grain and Lumber Company, which they continued to operate until retiring in 1989.
His wife, Lucy, preceded him in death on January 31, 1999.
Gust was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Midland American Legion Post #143, both of Midland. In October 1996, he received the Congressional Record Award from Senator Larry Pressler, for his work on saving the railroad in western South Dakota. He also served several years on the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital Board in Philip.
Grateful for having shared his life are his son, Larry Larson and his wife, Jean, and their two children, Leah and Travis, all of Marion, Iowa; his son, Scott's children, Ronnie of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Greg of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Kathy of Hiawatha, Iowa; his son, Charlie Larson and his wife, Sophie, of Midland and their children, Renee of Kadoka, Todd of Rapid City, and Jim of Midland; three great-grandchildren, Ashley, Merina, and Bryan; a sister, Selma Steiner of St. Paul, Minnesota and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to his wife, Lucy, he was preceded in death by a son, Scott Larson, on January 16, 1989; his parents and two brothers and two sisters.
A memorial is established.
Services
Monday, November 8, 1999
10:00 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Midland, South Dakota
Officiating
Pastor Bill Hamill
Music
Bob Sheeley - Organist
Congregational Hymns
Ushers
Gene Jones - Don Burns
Active Pallbearers
Jim Bierle - Carl Snook - Waldo Armstrong
Ronnie Sammons - Tommy Hickman - Scott Martin
Honorary Pallbearers
Dr. George Mangulis - Darwin Sampson - Damos Sky
W.A. Hickman - Cliff Phillips - Floyd Sammons
James O. Aplan
All relatives and friends in attendance
Interment with Military Honors
by the Midland American Legion Post #143
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota
Services
Monday, November 8, 1999
10:00 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland