Richard Gustafson Sr.

Richard Gustafson, Sr., age 90, of Aurora, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at Westfield Quality Care.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M., Friday, February 24th at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Rev. Michelle Reed will officiate. Interment will be in Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 P.M. Thursday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Richard C. Gustafson, Sr. the son of Carl and Lillie (Nelsen) Gustafson was born December 29, 1932 at Aurora, Nebraska and passed away at Aurora, Nebraska on February 14, 2023 at the age of 90. 

Richard grew up in Aurora and went to country school.  His father was killed during his junior year of high school, so he took a year off to farm.  He returned and graduated from Aurora High School in 1951.  He returned to farm.  Richard joined the U.S. Army on March 11, 1953 and was honorably discharged on February 17, 1955.  He returned to Aurora to farm.

Richard was married to Beverly Russell on October 9, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Marquette. They had four children: Kathy, Rick, Scott and Debbie.  Richard farmed for many years and always stayed active in the farming business.  They moved to their house in Aurora in 1996 and enjoyed their retirement.

Richard was a member of the United Methodist Church, where he was an usher. He was a member of the Aurora American Legion Post #42, was a volunteer at the Plainsman Museum and served on the Rural Fire Board for many years.  He gave blood on a very regularly, he was one pint short of donating 24 gallons. Richard enjoyed gardening and card club. During retirement Richard spent his time creating rugs to donate to the Methodist Church, Senior Center and other organizations to help them raise money. Richard and Beverly loved to square dance.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Darleen Meyer and son-in-law, Jon Gellinger.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Beverly of Aurora; 4 children, Kathy Gellinger of Aurora, Rick (Andrea) Gustafson of Aurora, Scott (Alyssa) Gustafson of Lincoln and Debbie (Scott) Cutler of Yankton, SD; 16 grandchildren; 15great grandchildren and many other family members and friends.