LaRayne "Rena" Gigstead

LaRayne B. "Rena" Gigstead age 94 of Detroit Lakes, MN died October 2, 2013 at her residence. Rena Gigstead was born on November 18, 1918 in Vergas, MN to Joseph and Anna Trautner Mistelske. She grew up and attended school in Vergas. As a young lady she worked at Lambert's Drug Store in Detroit Lakes, MN, where she met her future husband Gilbert Gigstead at the Ice Cream Counter. She later worked several years for Dr. Sanders Dentistry and St. Mary's Nursing Center in Detroit Lakes. Rena and Gilbert lived at the Tamarac Refuge, where he served as Refuge Manager. They later moved to manage refuges in Tennessee and Arkansas. They moved back to Detroit Lakes, where they bought the Snyder Farm and started Mink Farming. They also owned and operated the Right Mink Food Processing Plant and the Needlewoods Game Farm, both of which Rena was an active participant in. She is survived by her son, Gill (Kathy) Gigstead, of Detroit Lakes, MN; four grandsons, Shane (Lisa Foster) Gigstead, of Detroit Lakes, MN; Dane (Diane) Gigstead, of Frazee, MN; Darren (Michelle) Gigstead, of Detroit Lakes, MN; and Joel Gigstead, of Gentry, Arkansas; ten great grandchildren, Heather, Tyler, Dan, Brittany, Madison, Jenna, Dustin, Desiree, Sarah, and Emily; eight great great grandchildren, Serenity, Aidan, Liam, Lauryn, Jersey, Avery, Kynley, and Lydia; one sister, Marion (Don) Schattschneider, of Detroit Lakes, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert (1977); Parents; four sisters, Eleanor Mistelske, Caroline West, Lenora Chaffee, and Pearl Nelson; and three brothers, James, Clifford, and Emerson Mistelske.