Duane Anton Hunstad

Duane Anton Hunstad, age 93, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2025.

Duane was born on September 16, 1931, in Foldahl Township, Minnesota, the son of Anton and Ethel (Haugen) Hunstad. He was baptized and confirmed at Alma Lutheran Church in Argyle, MN, and graduated from Argyle High School. Duane enlisted in the Air Force on July 6, 1951 and served until July 16, 1953. After returning home, he started work at Prudential Life Insurance, where he met his spouse, Avis Johnson.

Duane and Avis eloped and were married in Watertown, South Dakota, on June 16, 1956. They continued west and settled in Spokane, Washington, where Duane worked for 7-Up as a delivery driver. They started their family in Spokane but soon returned to Minneapolis. Weekends often found the family at local parks, walking the Rose Gardens at Lake Harriet, exploring greater Minnesota, or spending time at their cabin on Lake Ottertail.

Duane worked for the Service Bureau Corporation (SBC), a subsidiary of IBM, as a computer operator. SBC was later acquired by Control Data Corporation. Duane retired as Control Data’s Manager of Corporate Telecommunications in 1991.

He made a point of attending every extended family gathering that he could and co-hosted the Hunstad family gathering in Ottertail, MN, and the Hunstad family gathering every January at his home in St. Louis Park. After retiring, Duane and Avis moved to Hastings, MN. They then traveled the country extensively in their RVs while towing one of his many convertibles. Many of their winters were spent in Mission, Texas, and Sun Valley, Arizona.

A lifetime Minnesota Vikings fan, he felt that they could have won the Super Bowl at least once in the last 64 seasons. He was grateful for the two Minnesota Twins championships.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Avis; four children: Stephanie (Mike) Jaskowski of Bellevue, Idaho, Steven (Merri) Hunstad of Castle Rock, Colorado, Mitchell (Holly) Hunstad of Golden Valley, MN, and Michelle (Stephen) Gilbert of Lake Zurich, Illinois; his grandchildren: Jessica (Bryan) Greer, Ashley (Joe) Rogers, Meagan (Sever) Kahl, Kelsey Hunstad, Nathan Hunstad, Nolan Hunstad, Gabriel Hunstad, Elizabeth Gilbert, Adrienne Gilbert, Tom Gilbert, and Ben Gilbert; his great-grandchildren: Avery Greer, Hazel Rogers, Henry Rogers, and Freya Kahl; and his brother, Ralph Hunstad.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Ivadelle (Evald) Clausen, Earl (Joyce) Hunstad, Darrell (Marge) Hunstad, Donald (Carolyn) Hunstad, Joan (Robert “Skin”) Rousseau, and Howard Hunstad; and two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Baby Girl.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. Philip's Lutheran Church, Hastings with a visitation one hour prior to the time of the service. Interment will be held at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage those who are inclined to make a donation to the American Legion. Donations in the memory of Duane Hunstad