Gladys Norstedt, 102, Minot, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at Trinity Hospital in Minot.
Gladys Leona Arnold was born May 14, 1910, in Carpio. She was one of nine children born to Leonard and Anna (Barr) Arnold. Her father passed away when she was 8 years old. The St. Aubin family then raised her on a farm near Carpio. She attended a country school in the area. At age 17, she moved to White Earth to work in a motel/restaurant.
Gladys married Reuben Norstedt on Aug. 11, 1928, in Stanley. They made their home on a farm near White Earth for several years, before moving to Stanley. They resided in Stanley for 13 years, and in 1956, moved to Minot, where they purchased the Sunshine Grocery Store. They owned and operated the grocery store for six years. She later worked for Mitchell Hardware, Minot Lumber and Ace Hardware. She then volunteered with Minot Commission on Aging for several years. Reuben passed away Jan. 23, 1978.
She was a member of the Moose Lodge Auxiliary, Eagles Aerie Auxiliary and Zion Lutheran Church. She enjoyed gardening, baking, canning, and especially helping others.
Gladys is remembered by those fortunate enough to have met and loved her as a kind, helpful and generous person who demonstrated always an unconditional acceptance of and respect for all people. She was admired for her "can do" approach to life and for the energy she put into enjoying life to the fullest. Her children, grandchildren, relatives and many friends can recount their "awe" of seeing her love of dancing, her joy while on a jet ski or speeding down a waterslide, or her unselfish compassion in bringing food to someone in need of a meal and a caring conversation.
She was simply a remarkable person who lived her life in a most remarkable way as she made herself available to assist others, never speaking disparaging of others and providing love and support to others in her life. When meeting Gladys for a big event or just out shopping you could count on her positive attitude, her warmth and caring, and always being stylishly dressed.
She will be missed, but more importantly she will be remembered and emulated. As one of her great-grandchildren said of her, "I want to be just like Grandma!" And through her life well lived, many others feel the same way.
Those who shared in her life: her daughter, Dorothy Corpron, of Stanley, and her children, Ric Hovda and Kevin McGrew, and Ric's son, Chad Hovda and his wife, Windy, and their children, Piper and Jonah Hovda, Craig and Shelly Hovda, and their children, Bryan Hovda, Melissa Nelson and her children, Daniel and Jaden Nelson, and Pam and Lonnie Fladeland, and their children, Troy and Amy Fladeland and their children, Faith and Stran Fladeland, and Casey and Franna Fladeland, and their children, Kennedi and Ty Fladeland, Dashon Ostdahl, Mitch and Jon Wheeler; her daughter, Doris Walhaug, who preceded her mother in death, and her children, Kerry and Shirley Fladeland and their children, Brian and Bradley Fladeland, Dianne Fladeland and her daughter, Becky Fladeland and Danny Kaye and Stephen Lohman and their children, Michael, Sarah and Stephanie Lohman; her daughter, Marjorie Ostdahl and her husband Leonard Ostdahl of Minot and their children, Tami and Larry Spiros and their children, Nick, Kyle and Sydney Spiros, Tim Ostdahl and his children, Grayson, Quinton and Sterling Ostdahl, and Teri, who preceded her grandmother in death, and her husband, Larry Johnson, and their children, Drew and Lucas Johnson; her son, Larry Norstedt of Kalispell, Mont., and his son, Lloyd Norstedt; her daughter, Loretta Joern and her husband Charles of Minot and their children, Ron and Audrey Joern and their children, Tricia Joern, Catlin Cunningham and his child, Carson Cunningham and Sierra Whitmeyer, Tracie Mason and her daughter, Amber Mason, and her daughter, Abbreana Longie, Larissa Mason and Jocelyn Backman, Scott and Bonnie Joern and their children, Denielle Joern, and her children, Jodaci Joern and Damia Valdez, Alisha Hopkins and Nathan Joern, and Lorraine and Brett Albrecht and their children, Adelai and Beckett Albrecht; her son, Allan Norstedt and his wife Jane of Minot; and their children, Danielle and Rob Davis and their children, Emily, William and Cameron Davis, Tiffany and Patrick Korths, Schaun and Kristen Norstedt and their children, Tyler and Grace Norstedt, Missy LaPray and Michael LaPray and his children, Larissa and Jace LaPray; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reuben; daughter, Doris Walhaug; granddaughter, Teri Johnson; and eight brothers and sisters.
Funeral: Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
