Patricia Gail Gustafson

Patricia Gustafson Portrait of Wife, Mom, Artist 1937 - 2013 Pat, standing proud, at age 68, on a reunion trip, outside the hospital she was born in Patricia Gail (Peterson) Gustafson passed away August 20th, 2013 after her long fight with a chronic illness. She was born in Roseau, Minnesota, to Arthur and Marie (Lustug) Peterson, Dec 31st, 1937. She often commented that she was born a few minutes too soon to be the New Years’ Baby. She graduated as Valedictorian from Stephen H.S., in Minnesota, in 1955 and received her RN from Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 1958. She was married in the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Iowa, to Larry Dean Gustafson in 1959. They moved to Seattle, and they had two children, Scott Bradley and Gay Lynn. Pat was an incredible Mom! She was proud of her Scandinavian heritage and often showed her “Norwegian” disposition. Pat was an animal lover, from her childhood pet Ginger, to GiGi Olena, Patina, Sadie Boom, Nummy Num, Lickety Split, and all the animals from the family farm in West Lynn. She constantly went out of her way to support the family, and loved family holiday celebrations. She always wanted to go out on New Years’ Eve when everyone celebrated her birthday. One Halloween in 1967, she dressed as a witch, had a cauldron of dry ice fog and loud scary music, and used the “new” garage door opener to thrill her trick or treaters with her own “trick!” Pat was a driven, creative person, and became a very talented artist. She loved oil painting and was particularly drawn to portraits of Native People, which she proudly displayed. Pat always described the world in colors of her oil painting palette. She helped with the family businesses, always raised a bountiful garden, and loved designing and redesigning their homes. Once, after her family over-irrigated the corn, she used her Norwegian persuasion to get her family to stand up and replant every fallen corn stalk. She loved camping, and singing motivational songs to keep her family moving. Her favorite view was of the Olympics, from her property overlooking Case Inlet, on Puget Sound. Her last creation was a complete remodel of her 100-year-old home, overlooking the Willamette on Furnace Street in Old Town, Lake Oswego. Pat was survived by Larry, her husband of 54 years, two children, Scott and Gay, their spouses, Pam Fulkerson and Donald McCandless, and her grandchildren, Mariah Sage Gustafson, Tarah Noel Gustafson, and Moxie Rose McCandless. Service Information