Gladys Rebecca Larsen

Gladys Rebecca, daughter of Martin and Christina (Jensen) Nielsen who had emigrated from Denmark, was born July 9, 1911, in Flandreau, South Dakota. When she was a young child, her family moved in two freight cars to Minnesota where she attended country school. On October 9, 1931, Gladys was united in marriage with Lawrence Larsen in Omaha, Nebraska. Two daughters were born to this union. They lived in Audubon County, Iowa where he worked on farms and Gladys was a homemaker. They later moved to several small communities in the area and then to Jefferson where her husband started working for Garst Company. Eventually they moved to Coon Rapids. During that time Gladys sorted corn in the fall for Garst Company. After the death of her husband Lawrence in 1986, Gladys continued to live in their home in Coon Rapids. Gladys was a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church. She was a good cook and baker and kept her family well-supplied with her homemade goodies. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan unless they were playing St. Louis, then she rooted for the Cardinals. Gladys broke her hip in 2001 and eventually became a resident of Thomas Rest Haven Nursing Home in Coon Rapids. She died there on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the age of 103 years, 6 months and 3 days. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lawrence Larsen; daughters Irene Hoisington and Naomi (Don) Pedersen; four sisters: Esther Hansen, Christie Larsen, Anna Nielsen, Lillian Nielsen; and brother Otto Nielsen. She is survived by her son in law Conrad Hoisington of Coon Rapids; four grandchildren: Tim Pedersen (Mary Jo) of Coon Rapids; Terri (Doug) Bock of Carroll; Larry Hoisington of Quincy, MA; and Lori (Paul) Schnepf of Lake Havasu, AZ; great-grandchildren: Dawn (Wes) Jones; Bobbie Jo, Logan and Collin Pedersen and Jason (Kristi), Matthew and Tyler Bock; great-great-grandchildren Jonathan and Jenae Jones and Easton and Avery Bock and Alexis Outerkirk; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Graveside Funeral Service THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015, 11:00 AM ORANGE TOWNSHIP CEMETERY SOUTH OF COON RAPIDS, IOWA PASTOR BEN RAMIREZ, OFFICIATING Casket Bearers GLADYS' FAMILY AND FRIENDS