Gladys Odegaard

Gladys J. Odegaard, age 90, resident of Cooperstown, ND passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the Griggs County Care Center in Cooperstown.  

Gladys June Lorch was born July 17, 1930.  She was the youngest of five children born to Albert and Henrietta (Stern) Lorch at their rural Hillsboro, ND farm home.

Gladys grew up on the family farm, attended country school #4 for eight years and attended Hillsboro High School, graduating with the class of 1948.  She graduated from Interstate Business College in Fargo and became employed with the City of Fargo Police Department, first as a clerk typist with the traffic bureau and later was appointed secretary to the Chief of Police, a position she held for 5 years, leaving the Department in September of 1954.

Gladys married Raymond Odegaard, Aneta, ND on October 23, 1954 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro.  They lived all of their married lives on the Odegaard farm.  Raymond passed away November 2, 2005. 

Gladys was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Following their marriage, she became a member of West Prairie Church, rural Binford, ND. She taught Sunday School for 16 years, was secretary for the church council for 23 years and secretary of the Ladies Aid for 21 years. After moving to Cooperstown in November of 2006 she joined Trinity Lutheran Church where she became an active member.

Gladys found much satisfaction in becoming a regular donor for many years for Blood Drive. She enjoyed visiting the ill and elderly people she knew when they became hospitalized or in the Nursing Home. She was a charter member of the Pilot Mound Harmony Homemakers. For many years she was into genealogy and was one of the initiators in the making of a Trostad History Book. She loved dancing and often said she could have danced all night! She loved quilting and her family all were fortunate to receive a quilt she made.

Her family will remember her for her bread and buns, her macaroni and cheese hotdish and her caramels.

Gladys was an active member of the McVille PTA and served one term as president of the McVille Music Boosters. She was a member of the Women’s Farm Bureau and Lutheran Brotherhood.

Raymond and she enjoyed many tours in the United States, as well as a trip to Norway where they met many of Raymond’s relatives.

Her family was precious, and they did lots of family things together.

Survivors are daughters Susan (Jeff) Love of Tuscan AZ, Louise Dahl of Cooperstown, Teddi (Pat) Leinen of Breckenridge, son Dan (Angie) Odegaard of Aneta. Grandchildren are Rob Love, Sam Love, Ben Love, Nick (Leah) Dahl, Amy (Jeremy Huizenga) Dahl, Mitchell (Marissa) Dahl, Beth (Josh) Deal, Lance (Seinquis) Leinen, Jana (Tyler) Flaten, Lori (Dejon Hart) Odegaard, Wesley (Camille Metz) Odegaard, 14 great grandchildren, 2 nephews and 6 nieces.

Gladys was proceeded in death by husband Raymond, parents, sisters Marie, Dorothy, Florence and brother Robert.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Cooperstown Funeral Chapel beginning at 5 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cooperstown.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gladys Odegaard, please visit our floral store.