Gary Clifford Gustafson

Gary Clifford Gustafson, 74, of Newton, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. No services are planned at this time. Memorials to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Gary, the son of Clifford and Marie (Thompson) Gustafson, was born in Hibbing, Minn. He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1965. He married Laurel Jane Frost Aug. 12, 1966, in Webster, S.D.

Gary was a lifelong educator retiring in June of 2006. He served schools in Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska where he retired as superintendent of schools at East Butler in Brainard, Neb. He was a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge #59 and an Angel volunteer. He was a caring and loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother and friend. Gary enjoyed fishing, coin-collecting, gardening and reading. He moved to Newton July 9, 2007, from David City, Neb.

Those left to Gary’s memory are his wife, Laurel of Newton; daughter, Dana (Cory) Sanders of Prairie City; son, Jarrod Gustafson of Brookings, S.D.; five grandchildren, Alexandra, Kylee, Chase, Dylan and Kyle; two brothers, Guy (Jane) Gustafson of Hibbing, Minn., and Marlon (Edna) Day; sister, Gayle Cline of Pengilly, Minn; nephew, Terry Cline; and nieces, Nikki Scheffler, Amber Gustafson, Tammy Gustafson, Gina Cline and Wendy Day. He was preceded in death by his parents.