Marlynne M. Gustafson

Marlynne M. Gustafson, age 86 of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD.  Private Family Services will be held at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, and Interment at Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Ava’s House in memory of Marlynne Gustafson.

Marlynne grew up on Hawthorne Avenue in Sioux Falls as the only child of parents who doted on her. She belonged to Westside Evangelical Free Church, which was just a block from home.

After graduating from Washington High School (class of 1957,) she attended beauty school in Sioux Falls while dating Jack, and they married on Jack’s birthday in 1958. Children came along, starting with Robin in 1960 and then John. They were "the big kids." Then later came Joel and Anne, “the little kids.”

Marlynne had several sales jobs, which, with her outgoing personality and persuasiveness, found a calling and she excelled at sales. Everybody was a new friend, and people knew her from her long career as “The Perfume Lady at Dayton’s.”

Her family can all agree that babies and dogs were among her favorite things. There was never a baby she didn’t want to get her hands on. She was an avid collector of all things vintage, and then there was the perfume collection. But the Gustafsons collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia was truly remarkable.  Also, she was an artist at heart… nothing she couldn’t turn into a craft project.

Marlynne and Jack were married for 67 years, always with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchild at the center of their lives.  Marlynne accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior as a child and we know she is in good hands now at his side.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, John “Jack” Gustafson of Sioux Falls, SD; their children, Robin (Gordy) Goihl of Minneapolis, MN, John Gustafson of London, England, Joel (Donna) Gustafson of Lincoln, NE, and Anne (Matthew) Nering of Fort Worth, TX; her ten grandchildren, Nathan Goihl, Hannah (Ryan) Robbins, Jackson (Kirsten) Goihl, Cooper Gustafson, Rowan Gustafson, Mason (Natalie) Gustafson, Adam Gustafson, Audrey (Christopher Balster) Gustafson, Calvin Nering, and Madison Nering; four great-grandchildren, Pennelope Goihl, Henry Robbins, Walter Robbins, and Eleanor Goihl; her brother-in-law, Rick (Laurna) Gustafson of Colorado Springs, CO; her best friend, Sallie Timm of Sioux Falls, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends. 

Marlynne was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Nellie (Basel) Portz; and brother-in-law, Lee Gustafson.