Gwendolyn Mae Cogdill, 90, Burlington, died Wednesday, July 19, 2017 in a Minot hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Gwendolyn was born July 26, 1926 at Oolitic, Indiana to Harry O. and Audrey (Lewis) Sipes. Her mother passed away when she was nine months old. She was raised by her Uncle and Aunt Gilbert and Mae Sipes and other family members. She graduated from Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Indiana in 1944. She worked at a defense plant in Bloomington during World War II as an assembly line worker. She met her future husband Clarence during this time because he was stationed near there in the U. S. Navy.

She was united in marriage to Clarence Cogdill on June 22, 1945 in Bloomington, IN. Following their marriage they lived in Indiana for about a year. After the birth of their first son Larry they moved to North Dakota. They lived in the Des Lacs and Burlington area before settling on their current farm in 1953 where they raised a variety of livestock and small grains.

Along with raising their 5 children, she was employed with the Des Lacs-Burlington School District in food service for over 32 years and drove school bus for the district. Following retirement from her school positions she and Clarence raised a large vegetable garden and sold the produce at the farmer's market and from their farm home.

During Clarence and Gwen's 71 years of marriage their farm home became the center of many family activities because of her deep love of family and pride for their farm home. Her pastimes revolved around this and included cooking, canning, gardening and tending to her flowers. She also supported her children's involvement in Boy Scouts and 4-H. Her latest pride was her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gwen was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church and was once active with the Women's Circle group.

Her loving family includes: sons: Bob (Geri) Cogdill of Minot; Brad (Lois) Cogdill of Fargo; daughters: Patty Cogdill of Beulah; Lisa (James) Walker of Maple Grove, MN; daughter-in-law: Nancy Cogdill of Souris; Grandchildren: Cory (Jesse) Cogdill, Chris (Lynnette) Cogdill, Jamie (Kris) Mortenson, Laura (Todd) Nelson, Heather (Benjamin) Opland, Joshua (Amy) Cogdill, Meghan Cogdill and Courtney, Caitlyn, Benjamin and Jonathan Walker. Great-grandchildren: Lainee and Tylee Cogdill; Tess, Rayna and Jace Mortenson; Claire and Karly Nelson; Charlie, Audrey and Kate Opland; Delila and Harrison Cogdill. She also leaves behind many special family members who reside in Indiana.

Gwen was preceded in death by her husband Clarence on April 21, 2017; son, Larry; her parents; her brother Harry G. and two infant brothers.

Funeral Service : Monday, July 24, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Rolling Green Cemetery, Rural Des Lacs, ND.
Visitation: Sunday, July 23rd from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.