Delbert R. "Gus" Gustafson, 90, of Faith, passed away early Monday morning, July 16th at the Belle Fourche Long Term Care Center.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 AM, Friday morning, July 20th at the Faith United Methodist Church. Joel Erickson will officiate and interment with military honors will be at 2:30 PM, Friday at Black Hills National Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Faith Education Foundation.

Visitations will be Thursday afternoon and evening at Faith Area Memorial Chapel, and one hour prior to the service at the Church.

Delbert Gustafson was born Nov. 22, 1921 at rural Castlewood, Hamlin Co., SD to Rudolph and Anna Dora Ruth (Hofwolt) Gustafson, the oldest of four children. He grew up on the family farm and attended a rural school near his home, graduating from Brookings High School in 1939. As a teenager, he began working summers as a cook for his father on road repair crews and later began operating heavy equipment building dams. An interest in aviation led him to take a civilian pilot training course.

Delbert attended South Dakota State College for a time but enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July of 1942 to complete his Pilot training and during World War II, flew 25 combat missions in a B-26 Marauder while stationed in England, Belgium, France and Germany. He attained the rank of Captain and was discharged in Jan. of 1946, but continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves until September of 1957.


While working with heavy equipment in the Philip, SD area he met Tish Sorensen and they were married on July 20, 1946 at Rapid City. They made their first home there, but lived in a trailer moving to many work sites from the Aberdeen area to Salem in eastern SD and finally to Faith in 1952, raising their family there.


Gus plowed many fireguards, built dams, dugouts, did land leveling, terracing as well as snow plowing in a wide area around Faith. He also worked for the State of SD, many counties, the Soil Conservation Service and SD Game, Fish and Parks in their earth work needs. He received special recognition from the Soil Conservation Service for his many years of service. He sold the earth moving equipment in 1999, but in the meantime had purchased the Standard Oil Bulk dealership and was part owner of M & D Oil Co. He was always willing to give an honest day's work and a little extra of himself to his customers.


Gus enjoyed his memberships and community affiliations; Faith Chamber of Commerce, United Methodist Church, Faith Masonic Lodge & Order of the Eastern Star, VFW & American Legion and had served on the boards of the Faith School District and the City of Faith. He enjoyed reading and "tinkering" with equipment and helping anyone fix a broken down machine. The "dam builder" in Gus would always make him slow down when driving, so he could watch the huge machines working along the roads and highways. He also enjoyed baseball on television and especially his Atlanta Braves.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife; Tish, son; Morris (Marlene) Gustafson of Faith, daughter; Jean (Joel) Erickson of Plymouth, MN, grandchildren; Eric (Amber) Gustafson, Alex (Candace) Gustafson, Abby Gustafson, Philip Erickson, Matthew Erickson, Tom Palmer and Wayne Palmer, great grandchildren; Bryce Gustafson and Audrina Gustafson, brother; Evon Gustafson of Ontario, CA and sister; Dolores Fagerstrom of Pelham, NY. He was preceded in death by his parents, son; Gary, sister; Edna Sittig and granddaughter; Hillary Gustafson.