Gladys Marie (Sorensen) Qualle

Livestreaming Gladys' service can be found at:                     https://youtube.com/live/dBNcl-ibzsM?feature=share

Gladys Marie Qualle passed away Tuesday, September 5th at Sanford Hospital in Bemidji with her son Paul by her side.  

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, September 12th at 10:30 AM with a visitation Monday September 11th from 5-8 PM at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji.

Gladys was born in Irene, SD, January 16, 1934, to Jens Johan and Ane Johana Sorensen.  At the onset of the depression, when Gladys was two years old, her family moved during a blizzard to Clearwater County just South of Ebro where the Sorensen family farm was established.  The blizzard was severe, and part of the family were taken in by strangers along the way who gave them food and shelter for many days.  

Growing up on the farm was hard work.  Gladys had many fond memories which included having homemade ice cream once a year on her birthday, made from ice cut from under the haystacks.

When the youngest siblings were of high school age, the parents moved with Gladys, her sister Elvira and brother Orville to a small farm West of Bemidji where the Super 8 and Starbucks are now located.  When Gladys turned 15 years old, the family spent the Summer in the Alborg area of Denmark and lived with many Danish cousins who she kept in contact with and visited again in 2018.  

After graduating from Bemidji High School, Gladys spent some time at Concordia College in Moorhead but ultimately came back to Bemidji and worked at Northern National Bank.  She joined the First Lutheran Church choir in Bemidji and people noticed how the young redhead was attempting to get the attention of Buiford Qualle who also sang in the choir.  

Gladys and Buiford were married in 1962 and happily made their home on the Qualle farmstead East of Bemidji in Frohn township.  They had one son, Paul and enjoyed living and working on the farm.  As Paul grew older, Gladys went back to work, this time, with the DNR and had a 20 plus year career with the Fisheries and Waters departments.  She worked there until her retirement when she frequently traveled to North Carolina to visit Paul's family and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Gladys always put her faith first and was an active member of First Lutheran Church.  She and Buiford were very involved with the Gideons International and Gladys participated in the Gideons Auxiliary women's jail ministry in Beltrami County.  Gladys very much enjoyed spending time with her bible study and coffee klatch friends who also helped her stay active and were very important to her.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, husband Buiford, brothers Axel, John, Gunnar and Orville and sister Elvira.  She is survived by her son Paul (Lorraine) and grandchildren Lexie and Ethan.  She also had many wonderful nieces, nephews and friends that supported her in her later years.

Memorials preferred to The Gideons International (www.gideons.org/donate) or First Lutheran Church, Bemidji.

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