Priscilla Viola Gunnarson

A memorial service for Priscilla Gunnarson will be held Friday October 3rd at 10:00 AM at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Rochester Chapel. The Reverend Nicklas Mezacapa will officiate. Mrs. Gunnarson, 80, of Rochester, died Monday September 29, 2014 at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.
Priscilla Viola Berthelsen-Gunnarson was born July 23, 1934 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the Rev. Holgar and Clara (Rehwoldt) Berthelsen, She was a graduate of Viborg High School in Viborg, South Dakota with the Class of 1951. Priscilla attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1952 and 1953. She transferred to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD where she graduated with a major in music education.
Priscilla met Theodore Alton Gunnarson at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and the two married on June 15, 1958 at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. They spent 56 wonderful years together.
Priscilla worked in the Rochester Public School system for 30 years, spending the majority of her years teaching music and orchestra at John Adams Middle School and Mayo High School.
Priscilla was an accomplished violin player. She was the concert mistress for the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and played for many weddings and functions in a string quartet. Priscilla enjoyed music, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was known for generosity and kindness.
She is survived by her husband Ted Gunnarson of Rochester; sons, Todd (Bonnie) Gunnarson of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Jay (Jen) Gunnarson of Rochester; six grandchildren, Derek Gunnarson, Sam Gunnarson, Tiana (Luke) Traffas, Trista Gunnarson, Joe Hanscom, and Sarah Hanscom; and one great-grandchild, Luna Traffas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Holgar and Clara Berthelsen; her stepmother, Ruth Frederica Marie Jensen; and a brother, the Rev. Arthur Berthelsen.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Online tributes are being welcomed and may be created at this website.