Laconia---Beulah Fowler Gustafson, 102,  formerly of 100 Dartmouth Street, died at the Taylor Community on June 9, 2007.

Mrs. Gustafson was born October 19, 1904 in Bow, New Hampshire and lived on the Bow River Road until 1921 when the family moved across the Merrimack River to settle in Pembroke.  She was the daughter of Adin Gilbert Fowler and Agnes Batchelder Fowler.

Mrs. Gustafson was the widow of Fritz Herbert Gustafson who died in 1988.  They were married in 1927.

Mrs. Gustafson graduated from Pembroke Academy and later from Plymouth Normal School which is now Plymouth State University.  Her first teaching position was in Whitefield, New Hampshire.  She then taught in Wilton and Concord, New Hampshire, and thirteen years in Gilford.

Mrs. Gustafson was an active member of the Laconia Congregational Church, the Laconia Women’s Club, the Lakes Region Retired Teachers’ Association, and also the New Hampshire Retired Teachers’ Association.  She formerly held membership in the Laconia Salvation Army Auxiliary and was an incorporator of the Taylor Home for over forty years.

Mrs. Gustafson served as a deaconess and as a trustee of the Laconia Congregational Church and later as an honorary deaconess.  She served four years as a trustee of the New Hampshire Board of the United Church of Christ.  She was a member of the Friendship Club of the Laconia Church since she came to Laconia from Concord in 1945.  Both she and her husband served together at one time as leaders of this group.  She served as president of the Women’s Fellowship of the Laconia Congregational Church.

In January, 1981, Fritz and Beulah Gustafson were presented the Laconia Congregational Churchmanship Award in recognition of their years of service to the church and to the community.

Mrs. Gustafson is survived by her son, Dr. John Fowler Gustafson, of Springfield, Virginia; a grandson, John Fowler Gustafson, Jr. of Fredericksburg, Virginia; a granddaughter,  Jane VanSickle of Herndon, Virginia; a great grandson, Christopher Wade Gustafson; and three great granddaughters: Hannah VanSickle, Sarah VanSickle, and Greta Gustafson.

There will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 2:00PM at the Laconia Congregational Church, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, New Hampshire.

Rev. Dr. Warren H. Bouton, Pastor of the Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in the family lot in Blossom Hill Cemetery, Concord, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Laconia Congregational Church – Dorcas Fund, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, New Hampshire is in charge of the arrangements.