Margaret Ann Gust, the daughter of Hans and Marie Florence (Christensen) Albertsen, was born March 16, 1934, at her parents’ home in rural Audubon County, Iowa and died October 27, 2022, at her home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 11 days. Margaret was one of five children: her sisters Dorothy, Martha, and Sharon, and her brother Harold. As they grew up Harold learned how to hunt and was able to furnish meat for the family.
Margaret was baptized and confirmed at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa. She studied at rural school Sharon #8, then attended the Audubon High School. Following High School, she helped on the farm.
On December 31, 1952, Margaret was united in marriage to Donald Raymond Gust at the Hamlin Lutheran Church. They lived in a trailer house by LaVerne Schmidt and Donald worked for him while Margaret kept house. Margaret told that while working with cattle once, Donald’s horse slipped on ice and fell on Donald’s leg and broke it. The bone went through the skin and the horse did get up but fortunately stayed there and didn’t run off as Don’s foot was still in the stirrup. Later, Don and Margaret lived on the Fred Siever’s farm and Donald did field work for him. Margaret kept house and a garden as well. One year a hailstorm took out Margaret’s garden and broke her heart, as Don once told.
Margaret and Don were blessed with three intelligent children, according to daughter Jane. The last of the children was a girl and the most brilliant of all, according to Jane. Margaret told of her three children Gregory, Gary, and Jane and said that Gregory was named after Gregory Peck, Gary was named after Gary Cooper. And Jane… well Margaret couldn’t remember why they named her Jane. Jane said it was probably from the Dick, Jane and Sally books- but why couldn’t she have been named after a movie star. We told her to be thankful, it could have been worse, she could have been named Spot.
Margaret and Don moved into Audubon and Don was hired by the DOT in Hamlin and Margaret kept house. When the children were old enough, she sought employment. Margaret had a variety of jobs over the years such as cleaning homes and a few of her jobs included cleaning at Cramer’s Insurance, working at GE in Carroll from 1980 until she was laid off in 1985. She worked at DeLong’s in Exira. Margaret truly was a wonderful cook and baker in her own right and loved to cook family dinners, bake cookies, desserts, and cakes for her family and friends’ birthdays and she even baked wedding cakes. She enjoyed making a weekly dinner for her grandson Greyson. And she loved to go out to eat with friends and family.
Margaret was an active member of the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin until it closed, she then transferred her membership to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. She was a member of the Red Hat Society. Margaret was an avid reader her favorite books were the Harlequin Romance novels. She was a person with a heart of gold and enjoyed being with people and her smile and laugh was never far off. Margaret will always be remembered by her helpfulness and many kindnesses to others and will be missed dearly.
Preceding her in death was her husband Donald R. Gust; her parents Hans and Marie Albertsen; her sisters Dorothy and husband Gaylord Swensen, Martha and husband Hans Buckholdt; her brother Harold and wife JoAnn Albertsen; and her brother-in-law Dewey Reis.
Survivors include her children Gregory and wife Debbie Gust of Brayton, Iowa, Gary Gust of Kimballton, Iowa, and Jane Duffy of Omaha, Nebraska; her grandchildren Gretchen Gust of Nashville, Tennessee, Greyson and wife Nichole Gust of Audubon, Iowa, Gabe Gust of Oakland, Iowa, and Dylan Duffy of Seattle, Washington; her great grandchildren William and Katie Gust both of Audubon, Iowa; her sister Sharon Reis of Denison, Iowa; her cat Grady, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
The family will greet friends Tuesday morning, November 1, 2022, from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral service, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Services will be officiated by Pastor Dan Beattie. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Gretchen Gust, Greyson Gust, Gabe Gust, Dudley Reis, Mike Albertsen, and Ron Buckholdt.
