Gladys Berens, age 95, of Mahnomen, MN, died Thursday, December 6, 2007 at the Mahnomen Health Center. Gladys was born on September 23, 1912 in Wauken Township, near Gary, Minnesota, to Carl Ose and Oleny Halland. She was raised by her grandparents and lived on a farm east of Gary, spending the winters in Mahnomen. Gladys attended school in Mahnomen and as a young girl, worked as a farm cook in North Dakota. She was united in marriage to Menton Hillstad on December 10, 1930 in Mahnomen. They made their home near Bejou where they farmed until Menton's death in 1946. Gladys moved to Mahnomen soon after where she continued to raise her children. She married Joseph Berens on January 6, 1954. Following their marriage, they moved onto a farm northwest of Mahnomen where they lived until the early 1960's, before moving into town. After Joseph's death in 1981, Gladys moved to Welle's Apartments. In February of 2004, she moved into the Mahnomen Nursing Home where she has since resided. In additional to playing cards, Gladys enjoyed knitting mittens and treasured visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by four sons: Manley (Vangie) Hillstad, Mahnomen; Norris Hillstad, Rancho Mirage, CA; Gordon (Connie) Hillstad of Cambridge, MN; Reuben (Cathy) Hillstad of Epping, ND; a step son, LeRoy (Sharon) Berens, Duluth, MN; her daughter, Joyce (Virgil) Quick, Fosston; two step daughters: Dorla Kellerhuirs, Forest Lake, MN; Nadine (Ronald) Schoenborn, Stillwater, MN; a sister, Mabel Hassel, Detroit Lakes; 36 grandchildren, 50 great - grandchildren and 12 great - great grandchildren