Sally Gaustad

Elizabeth R. “Sally” Gaustad, age 90 of Grafton, ND passed away on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND.

Sally Gieselman was born December 28, 1927 in Minot, ND the daughter of the late Henry and Emma (Sontag) Gieselman. She graduated from Mohall High School and attended Jamestown College where she met James Gaustad. Sally worked at the Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis in the insurance department before her marriage to James Gaustad on September 25, 1948 in St. Jerome’s Catholic Church of Mohall. James and Sally lived in Chicago for one year while he finished his studies at Northern Illinois College of Optometry. Sally worked at the Hyde Park YMCA. The couple moved to Grafton in 1949 when James opened his Optometric Practice. Sally was a stay at home mom during the children’s school years. She started working for her husband in 1977 as Office Manager and retired in 1993 when he retired.

She was active in all of her children’s activities as Den Mother, for Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Leader, 4-H Leader, Central Mother’s Club, Band Boosters, and served on the Grafton School Board. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and Altar Society and served as chair. She was Treasurer of Catholic Daughters’ of America for five years, a member of La Boheme, American Legion Auxiliary, Benefit Bridge and Leisure Center. She belonged to a bridge club that met for over 50 years in addition to two other bridge clubs.

She is survived by her children: Sue (Mike) Callahan, Grafton, ND; Carol Ganser, Park Rapids, MN; John (Louise), Beaverton, OR; Jay (Patty), Minneapolis, MN; Beth (Jay) Potulny, Grand Forks, ND; Gail Gaustad (Mickie Richards); Madison, WI; David (Leslie) Fergus Falls, MN; Mary (Sam) Mondry, Minto, ND; Dan (Stacey), Grand Forks, ND; 24 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 2013, son-in-law, Bob Ganser; sisters: Evelyn Davidson, Edith Hopkins, Billie Lee and brother, Fred Gieselman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at St. Johns Church. Interment will be at St. John’s Cemetery, Grafton, ND in the spring. Memorials are preferred to the Lutheran Sunset Home of Unity Medical Center.