Darrell Gulsvig

Darrell Allen Gulsvig, son of Alvin and Gladys (Davidson) Gulsvig, was born January 5, 1939 in Glenwood, Minnesota. He was baptized on February 1, 1939 in the Benson Parsonage in Benson, Minnesota. He was confirmed in May, 1953 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Darrell moved to various farms and communities with the family through 1945. From 1945 to 1950, he lived in Benson, Minnesota with his grandparents, RB and Marget Davidson. He moved to Tilford and Inez Jergenson, on the “Kittelson” farm in 1952, attending rural Country School District #77 for two years and later attended Starbuck High School in Starbuck, Minnesota. He relocated to Minneapolis in 1955, where he attended Edison High School. Darrell entered service via Recruit Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVA) boat crew, which sailed in both the 6 ^th (Atlantic) and 7 ^th (Pacific) Fleets, until his separation in 1959. Darrell worked on the Halls and Jacobson farms, hauled canned milk, hauled live stock for Roy Berens and drove heavy equipment (Tounapuls & D6 Caterpillar) until securing a job with Tyler Manufacturing in Benson, Minnesota, where he worked for nine years. On May 1, 1965, he was united in marriage to Katherine Ruplinger at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Benson, where Darrell worked for the City of Benson for 30 years in the maintenance department, retiring in 2001. In 2002, Darrell and Kathy moved to Starbuck, where they have continued to live until the time of Darrell’s death.

Darrell was a member of Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck, where he did volunteer work. He served as past Commander of the Benson VFW and was a certified driver to transport “Let’s Go Fishing” participants. He enjoyed baking, woodworking, painting, planting flowers, being outdoors, fishing and boating. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Darrell died on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at St. Josephs Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, having lived to reach the age of 69 years.

He is survived by his wife: Kathy Gulsvig of Starbuck; son: Corey (Danielle) Gulsvig of St. Cloud; one daughter: Heidi (Brett) Erickson of Starbuck; three grandchildren: Courtney, Rachel and Mackenzie; four brothers: Ray (Bonnie) Gulsvig of Glenwood, Glenn (Delores) Gulsvig of Bloomington, Richard (Judy) Gulsvig of Chandler, AZ and Paul Gulsvig of Minneapolis; two sisters: Marlene (Allan) Halls of Brooten and Marsha Gulsvig of New Hope; step-mother: Helen Gulsvig of Minneapolis and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Serving as pallbearers for the service are: Steve Aaberg, Jim Naig, Denny Schultz, Gary Searcy, Charles Tolifson, Mike McCarthy, Gibb Lee and Darrell Anderson. Shari Opdahl will serve as organist for the service with Karen Peterson serving as soloist. Sonja Kruger will deliver the eulogy. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.