Judith “Judi” Ann Johnson Gustafson

Judith “Judi” Ann Johnson Gustafson, 76, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on March 5, 2026 due to natural causes.

Judi was born on June 10, 1949 to Donald and Julia Johnson in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After graduating from East Grand Forks High School in 1967, she went on to study Secretarial Skills at Aaker’s Business College.

After graduation, Judi landed her first job as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell, kicking off a 25-year career with the Bell family of phone companies. Because of Judi’s career with the phone company, we were one of the first families to have call waiting and three-way calling, making us the envy of the neighborhood!

In 1968, Judi met Mark Gustafson, and they wed in 1970, going on to have three children, Jodi (Calvin) Delp, Stephen Gustafson and Jennifer (Jeffrey) Buckner. She has six grandchildren, Riley Gustafson, Samantha Holland, CJ Delp, Mitchell Buckner, Liam Delp, and William Buckner. She has two great-grand daughters Aurora and Luna Holland. Judi and Mark lived in Grand Forks ND, Minot ND, Bismark ND, Omaha NE, and finally Mesa AZ.

After retiring in 2001, Judi spent her time traveling to visit family and also creating beautiful quilts, in addition to many other crafts. Judi travelled extensively with her husband to many areas of Europe, Japan and Hawaii. Judi loved to share her quilting and sewing knowledge with family and friends. Judi was a collector of sewing machines, fabric, quilting patterns, and quilting books.

Judi was preceded in death by her son Stephen, father Donald, mother Julia, and brother Donald Jr. Judi is survived by her husband Mark, her daughters Jodi and Jennifer, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.