Elsie P. Gustafson

Feb. 19, 1913 - Sept. 23, 2011

HOLDREGE, Nebraska -- Elsie Pearl Gustafson, 98, of (formerly of Axtell, Nebraska) died Friday, (Sept. 23, 2011) at Holdrege Memorial Homes.

She was born Feb. 19, 1913, at Orleans, Nebraska, to Arthur Stanley and Julia Myrtle (Miller) Phelps. She attended school in Orleans and graduated from the Orleans High School with the class of 1931.

She worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Holdrege and Lexington, Nebraska. She later worked at the air base in Kearney, and Payne-Larson in Kearney, sewing draperies.

On Oct. 5, 1940, she married Orville Lorenzo Gustafson and to this union three daughters were born: Cheryl, Sandra and Betty. The family made their home on a farm.

Elsie was a member of the Fridhem Lutheran Church in Funk.

Besides her parents and husband, Orville, she was preceded in death by three brothers: Art, Edward and Charles; and two sisters: Ruth and Grace.

Survivors include three daughters: Cheryl Hedstrom and her husband, Tom of Kearney, Nebraska, Sandra Becker and her husband, Jim of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Betty Johnson and her husband, Eldon of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; one sister, Mary Lehl; and one sister-in-law, Marjorie Phelps, both of McCook, Nebraska; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, from 1 p.m. -- 8 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with the family greeting friends from 6:30 p.m. -- 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Fridhem Lutheran Church in Funk, Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. with the Revs. Darrel Wissmann and Jean Clayton officiating. Interment will be held in the Fridhem Cemetery at Funk.

A memorial has been established in her name and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of kindness and caring can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.