Mass of Christian Burial for Julie Gustafson, age 63, of Mobridge will be at 10:30 Friday, October 8, 2010 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge. Fr. John Short will be officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will start at 2 PM Thursday with a Prayer Service at 7:30 PM at Kesling Funeral Home. Julie passed away Saturday, October 2, 2010 at her home in Mobridge after losing her nine month battle with pancreatic cancer. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.

Juliana Lee was born on January 15, 1947 to Herman and Maxine (Clifton) Ries in Mobridge, SD. Julie attended school in Mobridge and graduated in 1965. Following graduation she continued to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., for a total of 14 years. During this time she also worked with her husband, Larry, at Koster's Skelly Station and even drove taxi for a short time. Through her years she was also employed by the Mobridge Care Center, Dady Drug/Ben Franklin, Eagle's Club, and JC Penny. In 1989, she began her career at the Mobridge Regional Hospital, holding many different positions, working hard she made it up to Medical Record Health Information Director. Her career spanned a total of 21 years with the hospital before losing her battle with cancer.

Julie married her first husband Lawrence John Kosters on September 18, 1965. They were blessed with two children, Dori and Melissa. Larry passed away in an accident in 1973. She continued to live and work in Mobridge.

On March 16, 1979 Julie married her friend of many years, Lonnie Ray Gustafson. They were blessed with three more children, Stacie, Kimberly, and Jason. The whole family got the opportunity to travel many places with Lon's job as a mechanic for Common Wealth Electric. Their permanent home was always Mobridge, SD.

Over the years, Julie was a member of St. Joseph's Alter Society, Women of the Moose, American Legion Auxiliary, Eagle's Club and Hospital Auxiliary.

Julie was always a dedicated wife, mother, friend, and employee. She loved being with her family as much as possible. She showed that love by checking daily to make sure everyone was okay and to see if she could help them in any way. Even in sickness she made sure everyone else was going to be alright.

Julie is survived by her husband Lon of Mobridge, her children Dori Moe (Dustin Fritz) of Fargo, ND, Missy (Jack) Wientjes, Stacie, Kim (Jeremy Bearsheart), and Jason Gustafson all of Mobridge; Grandchildren, Jace (Amber), Jessica (Tony), Jarryd, Mitchell, Brandon, Logan (Lizzy), Emily, Wyatt, Hunter, Austin, Arien, Alyssa, Taylor, Tyson, Taya, Trenten; great grandchildren, Alexis, Mackenzie, Carson, and one on the way; sisters, Cathy Ricketts of Mobridge, and Beckie (Doug) Sandstrom of Chaska, MN; brothers, Ed (Jackie) Ries of Mobridge and Nick (Kim) Ries of Chanhassen, MN; mother-in-law, Irene Kosters of Mobridge and many many relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Maxine, Lon's parents, Ray and Verna, husband, Larry and his father, John, her grandparents and great grandparents.

Casketbearers are grandsons, Jace Lipp, Jarryd Lipp, Logan Kosters, Austin Gustafson, Mitchell Moe, and Brandon Moe.

Honorary Bearers are grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jessica (Tony) Barnes, Arien Gustafson, Alyssa Gustafson, Emily, Wyatt and Hunter Wientjes, Amber and Mackenzie Lipp, Alexius Lipp, Lizzy Fischer, and Carson Kosters, all of her co-workers at Mobridge Regional Hospital and all Julie and Lon's Special Friends.

Ushers will be Kim Hollenbeck and Claude Hahne.

Reader is Doug Sandstrom. Organist is Marge Mertz. Placing of the Pall will be done by Jack Wientjes, Jeremy Bearsheart and Dustin Fritz.