Gladys LaVonne (Gjestvang) Carlson was born December 7th, 1935 in New Rockford, ND.  She was the fourth of seven children born to Helen Nora (Rude) and Ivar Anton Gjestvang.  She grew up in Lake Washington Township, where she attended grade school. Later attending high school in New Rockford, she lived in a boarding house with other girls.

On June 27, 1951, she married Freddy Arnold Carlson, the love of her life, at the First Lutheran Church in New Rockford.  They lived on the family farm in Tiffany Township, raising seven children.  Her family was her top priority. In 1989 they retired and moved to New Rockford. Later she was blessed with numerous grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids, whom she loved and adored.

Freddy passed away in 1999.  Gladys continued to live in their home in New Rockford, which was a home away from home for many of her grandchildren over the years. She later moved into the Heritage House in 2018. As her Alzheimer’s progressed, she transferred to the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, where she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on August 4th, 2024.

Gladys loved the farm life, including keeping books for the farm, gardening, driving truck, assisting with whatever was needed, and providing numerous delicious meals.  She was known for all her homemade pies, cookies, lefsa, donuts, lemon rolls, and angel food cakes.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, quilting, dominos, cards, dancing, reading and singing with her sisters.  She had a fruit cellar and freezer full of canned goods and potatoes to last through the winter.  She sewed many of her children’s clothes. She loved quilting, in which she made denim embroidered quilts for all her grandchildren.  She also assisted in sewing numerous quilts to be sent to those in need.

She always loved music; she was active in the church choir.  She loved walking, putting on many miles walking around town.

She was involved in many organizations including Eagles Auxiliary, First Lutheran Church various boards, Tiffany Meadowlarks 4H, Tiffany’s Ladies Aide, and Treasurer of the Tiffany Township for many years. She volunteered for many community activities, including organizing blood drives, Sunday School, Bible School, and numerous boards at First Lutheran Church.  She organized numerous First Lutheran rummage/bake sales, for which she and her sisters made tons of lefsa.

She is survived by her two sons, Johnny (Theresa) and Danny (Sheryl), both of New Rockford, ND; four daughters, Cheryl (Kurt) Bollingberg of Cathay, ND, Diane (Roger) Langley of Sheyenne, ND, Vicky (Stuart) Richter of New Rockford, ND and Linette (Dale) Yri of Minnewaukan, ND; son-in-law, Randy Anderson of Aberdeen, SD; 18 grandchildren, Kelly (Don) Hahler, Angela (Chad) Heier, Amy (Tom) Dalton, Kari (Shea) Durham, Gage (Sam) Bollingberg, Austin Bollingberg (Heather Nygaard), Justin Langley, Jared (Laura) Langley, Joshua (Trista) Langley, Jacob (Rachel) Langley, Amanda (Kelly) Karsnia, Chelsey (Mike) Zeltinger, Brady (Jenece) Richter, Lexi (Reed) Ystaas, Bret (Natalie) Carlson, Brandon (Emily) Yri, Brianna Rambow and Sharisa (Trey) Benson, 35 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren and one additional great grandchild due in December; one brother, Marlyn (Linda) Gjestvang; one sister, LuAnn Johnson; three sisters-in-law, LaDonna Keller, Glenna Gjestvang, and Audrey Gjestvang.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Freddy; daughter, Bonnie Anderson; two daughters-in-law, Anna and Jodi; her parents; two brothers, Delvaine Gjestvang and Arnold Gjestvang; sisters, Alice (Clifford) Erman and Viola (Johnny) Gisi; brothers-in-law, Curt Johnson, Leonard Keller and Harry (Lillian) Carlson; sisters-in-law, Clara (Lawrence) Bichler, Betty (Ed) Dyrness, Ellen (Celester) Risovi and Nellie (Jim) Anderson.

Gladys will be missed dearly by all her loved ones. Her legacy will endure.

 

Gladys Carlson’s Visitation will be Friday, 1:00PM – 4:00PM at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford; And 5:00PM-6:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 6:00PM at First Lutheran Church, New Rockford.

Her Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 10, at 10:30AM at First Lutheran Church, New Rockford.

Her Burial will be at Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford.