Gladys Smette
Gladys Smette, 86, of East Grand Forks, MN and formerly of Newburg, ND, died July 26, 2008 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.Gladys Evelyn Thingstad was born October 30, 1921, near Minot, ND, the daughter of Peter and Ella (Johnson) Thingstad. She attended country school at South Prairie and grew up working on the farm taking care of her brothers and sisters: Irwin, Perry, and Iver Thingstad, Pearl MacLennan, Charlotte Milligan and Prudence Wahlstrom. In 1941, Gladys moved to Minot and worked as a housekeeper and waitress.
Gladys married Gordon Smette in Minot on May 27, 1945. After they were married they moved to California for a short time then moved to Newburg and managed the family grocery store. They resided in Newburg 60 years of their 63 years of marriage and raised three children: Rodney, Darryl and Darlene. They were active in the community, dedicating their time to building and caring for the Dovre Lutheran Church, the Senior Citizens Center and the whole community of Newburg.
Gladys taught Sunday school, she was the secretary of the Management Board for the Senior Citizens Building for 21 years, and active in Sons of Norway and National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE).
She was a hard working Norwegian and enjoyed every minute of it. Gladys loved baking, bowling, gardening, dancing, canning vegetables, making lefse and other family favorites, taking care of family, and going to conventions and traveling with her husband.
In 2005, Gordon and Gladys moved to East Grand Forks, and she continued her love of baking, gardening and caring for family.
She is survived by her husband, Gordon; children: Rodney (Lois, deceased) of East Grand Forks, Darryl (Kathy) of Edmond, OK, Darlene Henning (Tom) of Dickinson, ND, grandchildren: Rebecca (Eric) Egeland, Robert Smette, Laura (Chris) Arnold, Kecia Smette, Rachel (Colby) Edwards, Kimberly Smette, Marc (Jillian) Henning, and Leif Henning, and great grandchildren: Stasha and Geneva Henning, Rylan and Logan Egeland; a sister Pearl MacLennan of Indianapolis, IN; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Irwin, Perry, Iver, Charlotte, and Prudence, daughter-in-law, Lois, and an infant granddaughter.
Gladys will always be remembered by family and friends for her generosity and giving spirit. She will be forever loved and forever missed.
Memorial Service: 2 p.m. on July 31, 2008 in Dovre Lutheran Church, Newburg, ND.
Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Service on July 30, 2008 in Family of God Lutheran Church, 327 5th Ave SE, East Grand Forks.
Inurnment: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND
Online Guestbook: www.stennesfuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Stennes Funeral Home, East Grand Forks, and Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau, ND