Avis Wullstein

Avis Loretta Wullstein was born on the 8th of August, 1927, in Beresford, South Dakota, and passed away peacefully on the 18th of March, 2024. Known for her compassionate heart, Avis dedicated her life to caring for others and offering a loving embrace to everyone she encountered. Her journey took her from the plains of South Dakota to Littleton Colorado where she raised her family. Avis spent her final years in Englewood, Colorado.

Avis grew up during the "great depression", her family, fortunately, were able to keep their farm and Avis and her 3 sisters along with Avis's uncles Iver and Ole, helped on the farm with caring for the animals and the crops. Avis spent her first 8 school years in a one room school house on the prairie, Brule School. Avis then attended Beresford High School in Beresford, South Dakota.

Avis met Don Wullstein, when she moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota after she graduated high school. Avis worked for John Morrell company as a secretary. Don met Avis one day and had said to his friend Donny Pete, " I just met the woman I'm going to marry". Don and Avis were married on June 21st, 1947. They settled in Sioux Falls and eventually moved to Littleton, Colorado where they raised their family. The Wullstein family loved camping. The kids and Avis would get the family camper ready every Friday in the Summer and when Don would get home from work, the family would take off to the mountains to enjoy the great outdoors. The family travelled to Canada, Yellowstone National Park and throughout Colorado over the years.

Avis was a woman of strong faith, baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church. Her love for God was evident in her generous spirit and the joy she found in serving others. She served as the church secretary for several years after her retirement from Information Handling Services, always ensuring that every detail was in place for the next service or event. Her intelligence shined brightly in her role as a Payroll Supervisor, a position she held for many years before retiring in 1991. Avis and Don traveled to Casa Grande Arizona when Avis retired. They spent several winters in that region. On Sundays, you could find her lending her voice to the church choir. In her leisure, Avis enjoyed knitting, many of her family member have numerous dish cloths that she knitted over the years; she worked cross-word puzzles, and was a proud member of the Son's of Norway for several years. She took tremendous pride in her Swedish and Norwegian heritage, often sharing tales of her ancestors with her loved ones. Avis loved to read Louis L.Amour and watching western shows and Law and Order on TV.

Above all else, Avis was a devoted family woman. She is survived by her children, Scott Wullstein, Susan Wullstein, and Thomas Wullstein; her grandchildren, Ryan Wiley, Maudy Wullstein, Jonathan Wullstein, Emily Wullstein, Macy Wullstein, Mitchell Wullstein, and Jason Grant; and her cherished great-grandson, Elijah Wullstein. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Wullstein, her parents, Peter and Harriet Erickson, and her son, Mark Wullstein.

A verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 encapsulates Avis' life beautifully, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

We invite you to share your memories and photos of Avis on the memorial page, to celebrate the life of this extraordinary woman who was a beacon of love and generosity to all who knew her.