diff --git a/src/gui/columnorder.py b/src/gui/columnorder.py
index 40550d098..6e4f4d089 100644
--- a/src/gui/columnorder.py
+++ b/src/gui/columnorder.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2000-2003  Donald N. Allingham
 # Copyright (C) 2010       Benny Malengier
+# Copyright (C) 2010       Nick Hall
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -61,12 +62,13 @@ class ColumnOrder(gtk.VBox):
     Column ordering selection widget
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, config, column_names, on_apply, tree=False):
+    def __init__(self, config, column_names, widths, on_apply, tree=False):
         """
         Create the Column Ordering widget based on config
         
         config: a configuration file with column data
         column_names: translated names for the possible columns
+        widths: the widths of the visible columns
         on_apply: function to run when apply is clicked
         tree: are the columns for a treeview, if so, the first columns is not
             changable
@@ -132,8 +134,11 @@ class ColumnOrder(gtk.VBox):
         self.oldsize = self.config.get('columns.size')
         self.oldvis =  self.config.get('columns.visible')
         colord = []
+        index = 0
         for val, size in zip(self.oldorder, self.oldsize):
             if val in self.oldvis:
+                size = widths[index]
+                index += 1
                 colord.append((1, val, size))
             else:
                 colord.append((0, val, size))
diff --git a/src/gui/views/listview.py b/src/gui/views/listview.py
index 6020a662a..740feb1b2 100644
--- a/src/gui/views/listview.py
+++ b/src/gui/views/listview.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2001-2007  Donald N. Allingham
-# Copyright (C) 2009       Nick Hall
+# Copyright (C) 2009-2010  Nick Hall
 # Copyright (C) 2009       Benny Malengier
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -483,6 +483,9 @@ class ListView(NavigationView):
                 colord.append((0, val, size))
         return colord
 
+    def get_column_widths(self):
+             return [column.get_width() for column in self.columns]
+
     def remove_selected_objects(self):
         """
         Function to remove selected objects
@@ -861,6 +864,24 @@ class ListView(NavigationView):
         self.edit_action.set_visible(True)
         self.edit_action.set_sensitive(not self.dbstate.db.readonly)
 
+    def on_delete(self):
+        """
+        Save the column widths when the view is shutdown.
+        """
+        widths = self.get_column_widths()
+        order = self._config.get('columns.rank')
+        size = self._config.get('columns.size')
+        vis =  self._config.get('columns.visible')
+        newsize = []
+        index = 0
+        for val, size in zip(order, size):
+            if val in vis:
+                size = widths[index]
+                index += 1
+            newsize.append(size)
+        self._config.set('columns.size', newsize)
+        self._config.save()
+
     ####################################################################
     # Export data
     ####################################################################
@@ -1067,6 +1088,7 @@ class ListView(NavigationView):
         """
         def columnpage(configdialog):
             return _('Columns'), ColumnOrder(self._config, self.COLUMN_NAMES,
+                                            self.get_column_widths(),
                                             self.set_column_order,
                                             tree=self.type_list()==LISTTREE)
         return [columnpage]