Gladys Hanson

Gladys I. Hanson, age 102, of Fosston, MN passed away on Saturday, August 16th at First Care Nursing Home in Fosston. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 21st at 11:00 AM at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston with Rev. Lois Ball officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour before the funeral and Interment will be at Mamre Cemetery, rural Fosston. Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements.Gladys Irene Hanson was born on August 2, 1906 near Oklee, MN to parents Andrew and Emilia (Carlson) Hanson. The family lived north of Oklee on what was referred to as "the claim". Gladys was the seventh child in a family that would be three boys and seven girls. In order of age, they were Herbert, Florence, Edythe, Winnifred, Lloyd, Pearl, Gladys, Eunice, Royal and Mildred.Gladys attended the local schools, graduating from Oklee High School in 1924. She attended Bemidji and Moorhead State Colleges earning an Associate Degree and a Minnesota teaching certificate. She then spent the next seven years teaching in rural schools at Hill River Township near Gully, and near Leonard, MN.The interest was then sparked for Gladys to go west. She traveled to California to share an apartment with cousins Lillian and Esther Nystrom in Berkley. She found work at a cafeteria with her specialty being baking cakes. Gladys soon decided this was not taking her where she wanted to be and returned to school at the University of California-Berkley, graduating in 1941 with a BS in mathematics and a California teaching credential.A teaching position in north Bakersfield caught Gladys' attention. She accepted the offer and taught in the Standard School District. She was there 29 years teaching Jr. High Math and French. Gladys enjoyed her years of teaching, the students, other faculty, and administrative staff.After her retirement, Galdys continued to live in Bakersfield. She moved to First Care Nursing Home in Fosston, MN in December 2002, where she could be closer to nieces and nephews.Gladys always loved traveling. Her first trip out of the U.S. took her to Norway where she attended the University of Oslo for the summer. She also visited Sweden. Gladys would return to Scandinavia several times with her travels. A few years later, another summer school was spent at the University of Hawaii. She also made trips to Alaska and most of the continental United States, Europe, Mexico, Central America and once to the Asian countries. Along with her travels, Gladys enjoyed photography and making home movies with her movie camera. At a very young age, Gladys accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She attended First Assembly of God Church in Bakersfield where she developed many lifelong friends. She did much volunteer work for the church and was treasurer for the Sunday School for many years. Gladys did not have children of her own but considered her many nieces and nephews her family.On Saturday, August 16, 2008 Galdys passed away at First Care Nursing Home at the age of 102 years.Survivors include many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Herbert, Lloyd and Royal; and six sisters, Florence Sondreal, Edythe Wenge, Winnifred Riel, Pearl Matson, Eunice Ophus and Mildred Ashment.