Gladys Howard, 87, Velva formerly of rural Ruso, ND, died Tuesday, September 22, 2020 in a Velva care center.

Gladys Ruth was born on March 30, 1933, in Havre, MT. She was the only child born to John and Olga (Flaskerud) Bergum. She was raised on a farm near Hogeland, MT. She moved to Minot and graduated from Dakota Lutheran High School in 1951. After high school she attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, WA for one year. Gladys then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN for one year with the intent of becoming a home economics teacher. She graduated from Trinity School of Nursing in Minot in 1956 and was employed as a registered nurse at Trinity Hospital prior to being married.

Gladys met Leslie Howard through a Dakota Lutheran classmate who was Leslie's cousin. They married on June 16, 1957 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Kongsberg, ND. The couple made their home on a farm near Ruso, ND raising small grains and beef cattle. Gladys spent the next years of her life dedicated to her family and the upbringing of their five children. She enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening, canning, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and being a 4-H leader. She moved to an apartment in Velva in 2005. She became a resident of Souris Valley Care Center in 2018.

Gladys thoroughly enjoyed her computer and also her iPad. She didn't know what she would do without one. She enjoyed daily video chats with her daughters. At the end of the chats, they would tell her they would talk with her tomorrow and she would always reply "Sounds good. I'll be waiting." She also loved when her daughters would bring her a frozen coffee drink or ice cream drink as a treat when they came to visit at the nursing home. She would tell them "That's good stuff" or "That's what the doctor ordered."

Gladys is survived by her children: Cindy (Maurice) Sonnek, Aurora, CO; Sue Howard, Bismarck, ND; Dianne (Steve) Plesuk, Ruso, ND; and Amy Howard, Bismarck, ND; six grandchildren: Cheryl Thursby, Paul Thursby, Max Thursby, Eric Plesuk, Hunter (Kayla) Plesuk, and Olivia Plesuk; and four great grandchildren: Ehlana Baughman, Mya Plesuk, Ajax Plesuk, and Charleigh Plesuk.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leslie, son Lee, and special friend George Schmaltz.

Private Celebration of Gladys' Life: Monday, September 28, 2020 at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, ND.
Interment: St. John's Lutheran Church, Kongsberg ND
Public Visitation: Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church (C/O Connie Plesuk, 10920 Hwy 52 S, Minot, ND 58701), St. Paul's Lutheran Church (PO Box 138, Butte, ND), or charity of donor's choice.