Raymond William Gusa

Obituary

Raymond William Gusa, the son of the late George and Martha (Wartenberg) Gusa, was born on April 12, 1912, at Seattle, Washington. At the age of two years, he moved with his family to a farm in Spruce Valley Township of Marshall County, near Middle River and Holt, Minnesota, where he attended school and grew to manhood. Ray was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. On December 5, 1943, he was united in marriage to Marion Backlund at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt. Following their marriage, the couple lived and farmed in Spruce Valley Township. Ray was a long-time member of First Lutheran Church of Middle River, serving on the church council, singing in the choir, and served as a Synod delegate. He served on the Middle River Co-op Oil Assc. Board for several years, as clerk of the Spruce Valley Town Board, and was a member of the Hold Keenagers and the Middle River Senior Citizens Group. In 1988, he was selected as Marshall County ""Outstand Senior Citizen' and in 2002, was a State of Minnesota ""Ageless Hero'. Ray enjoyed woodcrafts, rug making, and knitting, as well as fishing. Ray never worked on Sunday. Marion passed away November 2, 2000, and since January of 2001, Ray has resided at the Valley Home in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where he passed away on Thanksgiving Day morning, November 25, 2004, at the age of 92 years, 7 months, and 13 days. He is survived by one son: William (Diane), of Mount Vernon, Washington; five daughters: Joan (Verdell) Anderson, of Park Rapids, Minnesota; Sharon (Wayne) Smith, of Warroad, Minnesota; Catherine Burkholder, of Hendersonville, North Carolina; Carolyn (Terry) Miller, of Barron Wisconsin; and Martha (Stephen) Jonlund, of Proctor, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother: James, of Elk River, Minnesota; in addition to several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Ray was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one brother: Ted, and two sisters: Edna and Linda. Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Mon. at the First Lutheran Church, Middle River, MN., with interment in the First Lutheran Cemetery there. Visitation will be after 6 P.M. Sun. with a 7 P.M. prayer service at the Collins Funeral Chape, Middle River, and at the church one hour prior to services Mon. morning. Collins Funeral Home, Middle River, MN., is in charge of arrangements.