Ella Sustad, age 87, of Ada, Minnesota, and formerly of Stephen, Minnesota, died Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at Benedictine Living Community, Ada, Minnesota.

Ella Margaret Skretvedt was born October 22, 1928 to Halvor and Annie Skretvedt at Nielsville, Minnesota. She joined five sisters, Ida, Alice, Gertrude, Hilda and Thelma. When Ella was 8 months old her mother died, and she was raised by her grandparents until her Aunt Andrea married Hans Nystul. Andrea and Hans took her in to live with them, and she became a big sister to their son Lawrence and daughter Thelma.

Ella began work at the Waale Studio at the age of 16 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. She married Glen Sustad on February 15th, 1947. To this union five sons and one daughter were born – Lyle D., Keith A., Gary E., Dean M., Merilee A., and Arden W. After her children were graduated or in school, she began work at the Stephen Public School as a laundress. For fifteen years she devoted her efforts to this job. Ella loved to lead Bible Studies for the Ruth Circle and preach sermons when the Pastor of her church was elsewhere or on vacation. After moving to the Tamarac Assisted Living facility in Stephen in the fall of 2007, she continued to lead Bible Studies. Glen and Ella were members of First Lutheran Church in Stephen, Minnesota and transferred their membership in June of 2007 to Our Savior's Free Lutheran Church in Argyle, Minnesota. Glen and Ella moved to the Summerfield Apts. at Ada, Minnesota on August 23, 2008.

Ella is survived by four children, Keith (Jeanne) Sustad of Stephen, MN; Dean (Gale) Sustad of Centennial, CO; Merilee (Mark) Potucek of Ada, MN; and Arden (Carrie) Sustad of Sioux Falls, SD; two daughters-in-law Barb Sustad of Eden Prairie, MN and Karen Sustad of Moorhead, MN; 16 grandchildren, 13 greatgrandchildren; sister Thelma (Leland) Thomas, Grygla, MN; and sister-in-law Catherine Nystul, Plymouth, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Glen, five sisters, Ida, Alice, Gertrude, Hilda and Thelma; one brother, Lawrence Nystul; two sons, Gary and Lyle; and granddaughter,
Katie Sustad.

Funeral: 11:00AM, Friday, July 8, 2016 at Our Saviors Free Lutheran Church, Argyle, MN.

Visitation: From 3-6PM with a 5pm prayer service on Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Mission Court Chapel of the Benedictine Living Community, in Ada. Visitation will also be for one hour before the funeral Friday at the church.

Burial: Stephen Cemetery, Stephen, MN.