Agnes Melasina (Patterson) Gustafson, 91

Agnes Melasina (Patterson) Gustafson, at the age of 91 1/2, passed away at the Buffalo Hill Terrace the evening of Jan. 23, 2017, with her beloved niece, Nancy, by her side.

Agnes was born May 16, 1925, and spent her entire life in the Kalispell area. Aside from raising two daughters, her most challenging job, Agnes owned and operated the Merle Norman Cosmetic franchise for many years. She was a charter member of the Hobby Club which was started in 1951 in Kalispell and only disbanded a year ago. The Hobby Club ladies met once a month and that was a great source of happiness in her life. The members gathered together to gossip, create craft projects and enjoy a snack; all this conducted under parliamentary order.

Agnes married Harold Gustafson Jan. 27, 1945. Their first business venture together was running a special delivery business for the post office along the eastern lakeshore called the Galloping Goose. Agnes and her husband, Harold were avid square and round dancers. They danced for many years, even dancing their way on a bus tour to Washington, D.C., with their dance group.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband and beloved partner of 55 years, Harold. Also preceding her in death was her daughter Terry LaSpina, her parents Karl and Elsie Patterson, her beloved uncle and aunt Robert and Elizabeth Patterson, five of her siblings, Hank, Walt, Earl, Bobby and Ann, and several nieces and nephews.

Surviving Agnes is her daughter, Sherry, and husband, Harold Michael, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia; her granddaughter, Shae Stautz and husband, Shay, of Arlington, Virginia; her grandson, Jamahl Michael, and wife Tiffany, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, and their children, Sandra Haentschke and family of North Carolina and Shelly and family of Maryland; her sister, Betty Patterson VanAlstine, of Whitefish; and many nieces and nephews, especially her favorite, Linda Howard and Nancy Turner of Kalispell, Agnes’ caregivers for the past seven years, her niece Carol Freeman (Gustafson) of Kalispell and Gary Gustafson of Missoula, as well as many friends in the Flathead Valley.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church.

To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.