Louise Gussner, age 97, passed away July 13, 2004, at Edina Care Center, Edina, Minn.

She was born July 13, 1907, in Farmington, N.M., the daughter of Joseph and Juniata Markley Wilkin. She graduated from Jamestown College, Jamestown, N.D., in 1930 where she met and later married Erwin Arnold Gussner of Flasher, N.D. Her son, Robert Erwin Gussner, was born in Hawley, Minn., where Erwin Gussner was principal of the high school and coach of the Hawley Hawks athletic teams from 1930 to 1942, before becoming superintendent of schools at Glyndon, Minn., from 1942 to 1960, and Glenville from 1960 to 1972.

Louise lived in Glenville 33 years before moving to the Edina Park Plaza in 1993 and the Edina Care Center in 1999.

Besides homemaking with a remarkable vengeance of energy, Louise obtained a degree in library science and was also qualified to teach physical education, shorthand, and typing.

She was employed in the Glyndon school system teaching those subjects, and became elementary librarian in District 24 1, Albert Lea school system, in 1962 serving ten years until her retirement.

She is survived by her son, Robert Gussner, professor emeritus of comparative world religions at the University of Vermont and his wife Joan Low Gussner; two grandchildren: Linda Gussner Kowalski of McCall, Idaho, and Timothy Gussner of Sacramento, Calif.; as well her nieces: Kathleen Gussner Dehne of Fargo, N.D., Paula Foss Boehmer of Tucson, Ariz., and Gayle Stende of Great Falls Mont.; and nephews William Gussner of Webster Groves, Mo., Michael Foss of Tucson, Ariz., and Roger Foss of Lincroft, N.J.

She was predeceased by her mother, June K. Wilkin; her father, Joseph Wilkin; her father-in-law Stephen Gussner, her mother-in-law, Mary Jahnke Gussner, her husband, Erwin; her brother, Robert Wilkin; sisters: Dorothy and Lillian; her brothers-in-law: William S. Gussner, Robert Steve Gussner, Sidney Stende, and Melvin Foss; her sisters-in-law: Nancy Gussner and Marie Stende; and niece, Gail Marie Jasperson.

A memorial service will be held at the Methodist Church, Glenville, on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m., and a graveside service at the Union Cemetery, Mandan, N.D., on Friday, October 15, at 3 p.m.

She will be remembered for her great practical generosity toward any and all needing a helping hand, her common sense and hard work, soft heart, sterling character, delight in the humorous, her grit, courage and endurance, and her lifelong Christian faith expressed in daily devotional reading and the inculcation of morality through the faithful observance of ritual.

Memorial gifts can be sent to the Gussner Scholarship Fund, Jamestown College, Jamestown, N.D. 58401.