Artis Juliette Gaustad

Artis Juliette (Peterson) Gaustad, 82, of Houston , MN , died peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family. Artis was born January 23, 1929 , in Dunsmuir , CA , to Ralph and Evelyn (Raymond) Peterson. The family moved to Crosby , MN , where she grew up. When Artis was 14 years old her mother died suddenly and she and her father raised her younger bothers and sister. Artis graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School and attended Crosby Junior College . Her family then moved to Two Harbors , MN , where she met Russell Gaustad who was on a hunting trip. They married in 1948 and moved to Looney Valley , MN where they farmed a short time before moving to Houston and then later to Yucatan, MN where they farmed and raised their family. While farming Artis worked at Rush Products in Rushford , MN , for 14 years. They had also owned and operated the A&R Café in Houston selling it in 1978. Artis then worked part-time at Our Own Hardware Store in Houston . Artis enjoyed being a housewife, mother, grandma and great-grandma. She was a very warm, caring and gracious person. Artis was always a fair and lovely person. She was an avid reader and card player, enjoyed fishing at her boat house, watching T.V., sewing, knitting and upholstering furniture. Artis loved to stay home and have her daughters and nieces paint and help redecorate her home, which she took great pride in. Artis was a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church. Survivors include her daughters, Evelyn (Gary) Bartsch, Ginnie (Tom) Weichert and Mary Gaustad all of Houston, MN, and Kathy (Mark) Patterson of Winona, MN; son, Richard Gaustad of Houston, MN; two brothers, Ralph (Jan) Peterson of Minneapolis, MN, and Donald(Peggy Kuettel)Peterson of Duluth, MN; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Ken (Jann) Gaustad of LaCrescent, MN; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Anderson and Violet Gaustad both of Houston, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her wonderful husband of 48 years, Russell, her oldest son, David, her brother, Richard, an infant sister, her loving sister, Nancy Mindrum, and brothers-in-law, Lloyd Gaustad and Robert Anderson. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 7th, at 11:00am , at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church with the Reverend Lane Zaffke officiating. Burial will be in Stone Church Cemetery . Visitation will be on Tuesday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service - Houston from 5-8:00pm and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. The family kindly suggests that memorials may be directed to Mayo Hospice through Franciscan Skemp, Houston Library Renovation or the donor's choice. Please share a memory of Artis with the family or sign her online guestbook at: www.hofffuneral.com