Sylvia Gustafson, 87, of Hallock, Minnesota passed away at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in Hallock on Sunday, January 19th, 2014. Sylvia Adeline Downs a daughter of Arthur and Margaret (Campbell) Downs, was born May 17, 1926 on the family farm north of Landa, North Dakota in Scotia Township, Bottineau County. The family moved to a farm north of Newburg, North Dakota where she attended her first two years of school. After a move to a farm southwest of Westhope, North Dakota, she graduated from the 8th grade in Serguis District #27, School #4. In 1944 she graduated from high school in Westhope. That summer she was employed by the Great Northern Railroad Company after being trained in telegraphy (morse code), ticket sales and cash accounting by the local agent in Westhope. Sylvia also took additional telegraphy classes in Grand Forks. After serving in many depots she bid on the cashier-telegraphy job in the Hallock, Minnesota depot. Sylvia moved to Hallock in April of 1946. At that time there was an agent and a clerk at the depot. On August 3, 1947 Sylvia was united in marriage to Allan Ray Gustafson of Hallock in the First Presbyterian Church at Hallock. They have lived on a farm first in Hampden Township, then in Granville Township where they are to this day. Sylvia was employed in the Farmers Store at Hallock for ten years. She has been an active member in the First Presbyterian Church, an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher and the women's organizations at the church. She was an organizer, and avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, cards and all her neighbors. She loved her family! You were never a stranger in her home. Sylvia is survived by her husband of 66 years, Allan Ray; a daughter-in-law, Pauline of Thief River Falls, MN; sons, Bob (Jane) of Fargo, ND and Bruce (Marilyn) of Lancaster, MN; four grandchildren, Derek (Heather), Grand Forks, Jason (Ann), Fargo, ND, Greta (Bobby) Strom, East Grand Forks and Jacob (Karoline), Fergus Falls, MN; a great grandson, Ben Gustafson, Fargo; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Gustafson and Lue Gustafson, Hallock; a brother-in-law, Jim Gustafson, Hallock and many nieces and nephews. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Margaret in 1915; brothers, Phillip in 1983 and Arthur (Bud) in 2009; sister, Edith Huber in 2012 and her son, Al in 2012. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, January 24th, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church at Hallock. Rev. Marge Landwehr and Rev. Don Woodford, presiding. Special music, Kristi Morrison, soloist and Karen Backlund, organist. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00.