Gladys Stenberg, 97, of Watford City, ND, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Watford City. Her funeral arrangements are with Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home.

Gladys Josephine (Olson) Stenberg was born September 24, 1919 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan to Thomas and Helga (Nelson) Olson. She died on February 16, 2017 in the Good Shepherd Home, Watford City, North Dakota.

In 1922, Gladys’ family moved to a farm near McGregor, North Dakota. She attended country schools and graduated from McGregor High School in 1938. Following high school, she worked as a babysitter in Williston before finding an ad in the newspaper for help wanted at a café in Watford City. Gladys met Chris Stenberg in Watford City while working at the café and wrote letters to him while he served during World War II. The County Superintendent encouraged her to take a test that would make her eligible to attend a two-week course at Minot Teachers College. She received a 2-year certificate and taught for two years at a rural school south of Noonan. In 1944-45, she worked in the Seed & Feed Loan Department at the Divide County courthouse. Gladys then taught at a school west of Noonan for six months before her mother died unexpectedly.

Chris and Gladys married on October 2, 1946. They farmed for one year with her dad before moving to the Stenberg farm 10 miles northwest of Watford City. They had three children: Sharon, Carlyle and Glenda. Gladys devoted her life to being a mother and farmwife. Each year, she raised chickens and tended her garden while helping Chris by milking cows or doing any chore that needed to be done for that day. They were faithful members of Farland Lutheran church where she taught Sunday school and volunteered in many other areas. She was active in Ladies’ Aid and a leader of the Rough Creek Rangers 4-H club. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother to her nine grandchildren. She will be remembered as being a caring, thoughtful friend and neighbor and always putting others before herself. Her mercy and compassion extended to each person and animal she came into contact with and one of her greatest passions was for others to know and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Gladys is survived by her children: Sharon (Don) Zubke of Dickinson, ND; Carlyle (Gayle) Stenberg of Watford City, ND; and Glenda (Ed) Brockell of Minot, ND, her nine grandchildren: Nikki Kerns of Los Angeles, CA, Sara (Jeff) Berry of Wenatchee, WA, Chad (Robyn) Zubke of Rochester, MN, Kimberly (Richard) McMurray of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, Elisa (Nate) Thibodeau, Daniel Stenberg, and Titus (April) Stenberg all of Watford City, ND, Rachelle Brockell of Minneapolis, MN, and Heather Brockell of Minot, ND and seven great-grandchildren.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Chris on April 10, 2006, her brothers Myron (Olive) Olson of Palatine, IL, and Thelmer Olson of Wildrose, ND.