Luella Gupman, fondly called Grandma Lu by those she knew and loved, was filled with the Joy of the Lord. To know her is to love her. Her warm smile, soft hands, and loud free laugh could draw anyone in. If you've ever heard her laugh, you could pick it out of a large crowd with ease. It was truly a treat to hear, and you knew she was laughing really hard if the hand went up to her mouth to try and control the volume, but it never succeeded in its mission.
Grandma Lu was a master with her embroidery and cross stitch, even if she never thought so herself. She could be found sitting in her glider rocker in the corner of the room with the sun shining on her, stitching, mumbling, grumbling, and ripping out stitches. In the end it would be a beautiful work of art stitched with love and perfection. And when we say perfection, we mean the back of the work looked exactly like the front!
She detested flies; living on the farm she would often be heard yelling "Shut the door! You're letting the flies in!" All summer long she could be found with a fly swatter within an arm's reach to rid the house of those pesky flies. Her nemesis, the fly, would have her coming unglued, especially on hot sticky days when they refused to leave her alone.
The love she would readily give to those around her was simply a reflection of the love she had received from her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was pure, honest, and never with expectations of return. She accepted people for who they were, even if she didn't agree or understand where they were coming from. She loved with her whole heart while trying to guide us all in the right direction.
She loved her chair in the corner of the room where her Bible and devotional books could always be found within easy reach. She loved to observe the coming and going of all the activity in the house. If you thought you could get away without a Grandma kiss, you thought wrong. If you know what the "Grandma Kiss" is, you were blessed with the longest, loudest, shiver inducing kiss on the cheek that you have ever had in your life! Her corner will feel empty without her smile and wave. To sum up Grandma Lu, She loved, and she loved well!
On May 2, 1928, Luella was born to John and Rose (Wiege) Magstadt on the home farm in Adams County in SW ND. She attended a country school until the 7th grade, and then went to New Leipzig through high school. She was a cheerleader, loved to be in anything having to do with singing and acting. She wanted to be another Minnie Pearl!!
At the age of 18 she received an emergency teaching license, and taught country school for 3 years. On June 5, 1949, Luella married her best friend, Philip Gupman. She worked on the home farm, was a mother to 4 children, and 10 foster children. She was a 4-H leader, active in Homemakers club for 50 yrs, active and held office in the local and state United Methodist Women's Ministry, Sunday School Superintendent at Zoar church (which was her church for 80 years), Home Health Aide, CNA at Five Counties Nursing Home, Physical Therapy Aid, and secretary at Dakota Herald Newspaper. Life was not all work. She also enjoyed baking and decorating cakes for birthdays and weddings. She loved to sing and harmonize with songs of praise to the Lord, dance and visit with everyone!! Luella provided excellent home care for Philip through several extensive medical issues.
Philip and Luella moved to Rugby in 2007 and lived with their youngest daughter Ruth. They made many friends, enjoyed worshiping at Calvary E. Free Church and looked forward to the community plays and concerts. She enjoyed traveling to see her children and their families. She could be found cuddling the cats, talking to the dogs, riding a chair lift up a mountain so she could come down on the Alpine slide! She loved adventure, and was willing to try most anything!
Luella loved her family, singing, cats, flowers, hugs, laughter, cross stitch and embroidery and mostly her quiet time in the Bible and listening to Dr. David Jeremiah on her iPad. She enjoyed using her iPad to keep in touch with family and friends, and of course the weather!
Her greatest desire was for everyone to accept Jesus into their hearts!
Those missing her include her son Mark (Connie) Gupman from Orient, SD, and daughter Ruth Stanley, Rugby. Also, Foster children: Susan Haberstroh, Hettinger, Laban Silk, (WA), Lois Whittet, Omaha and their families. 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, many other family relatives, and anyone calling her Gma Lu!
Those waiting with open arms to greet her are: her parents and in-laws, husband Philip, brother Victor and his wife Alta, sister Marlys and her husband Duane, daughter Deborah, son John, son-in-law Eugene and foster son Buddy.
She will be missed by all, but in heaven there is much jumping and leaping and praising God with laughter and singing!!!


The Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 6, 2022 – 2:00 p.m. Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rugby, North Dakota with Pastor Gary Dorn and Pastor Mike Lundberg, officiating.
The Burial will be held Saturday May 7, 2022 – 1pm MST at Zoar United Methodist Cemetery south of New Leipzig, North Dakota.