Thelma Gustafson

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Thelma Lucille Nielsen Gustafson, 85, passed away peacefully, September 20, 2016.

Thelma was born February 5, 1931, in Wayside, Nebraska, to Jacob Johannes Nielsen and Maggie Pearl Thrasher Nielsen. She married Francis Ray Gustafson on September 5, 1948 in Chadron, Nebraska and were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Thelma was fiercely loyal to her family. She enjoyed road trips to visit family. She was well known for her brownies and pumpkin muffins, as well as her sewing, cross-stitch, and embroidery talents, which she generously shared by making many gifts for others. She was an especially devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was active in the LDS Church and served in many callings.  Thelma’s favorite and most enjoyable calling was as the ward’s self-designated “official hugger,” ensuring that each member received a warm embrace and smile before each week’s services.

Thelma was preceded in death by her loving husband, Francis Ray Gustafson on January 6, 1998. They are both survived by their loving daughter Audrey Gustafson [Bountiful], who lived with and cared for Thelma after Francis’ passing, and their loyal son Leo (Peggy) Gustafson [Bountiful]; 3 grandchildren Kelly (Ryan) Heieie [Centerville], Jacob (Jamie) Gustafson [Bountiful], and Danielle (Mark) Lees [Farmington]; 7 great-grandchildren Abby and Kate Heieie, Sophia and Olivia Gustafson, and Ellie, Ryan, and Beckham Lees; older sisters Nellie Thomas [Yelm, WA], Bonnie Warner [Oelrichs, SD], Noni Welling  [Chadron, NE], younger brother Dalbert (Donna) Nielsen [Loveland, CO], and younger sisters RWilda (Rell) Reynolds [Sandy], Carol (Richard) Manning [Bountiful], Hildagarde Fisher [Pocatello, ID], and Saundra (David) Schaffer [South Salt Lake].  Thelma was preceded in death by her older brothers Jack Nielsen, Ira Nielsen, and George Nielsen.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 26, 2016, at the Bountiful Shadows LDS Ward, 1476 North 300 West, Bountiful, Utah. There will be a viewing just prior to the funeral services on Monday 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church.  Following the services, interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.