Gladys Julia Jensen passed away at the Twin Valley Living Center on March 2, 2009, at the age of 97 years and 364 days.

Gladys (known as Gay) was born at Beaulieu, Minnesota, on March 3, 1911, the youngest child of Charles and Elizabeth (Beaulieu) Person. Gay was baptized at St. Joseph's Church in Beaulieu. As a child, she attended country school and later Mahnomen High School. Following her high school graduation, Gay received her Teachers Certificate from Moorhead State Teachers College in 1938. She then taught at several Mahnomen County schools at a time when teachers also served as janitors, firemen, school nurses, and playground referees; dealing with whatever issues came up at school.

On January 1, 1942, Gay and Stanley Jensen were united in marriage at St. Joseph's Church while Stanley was home on Army leave. Their only child, Karen Elizabeth Jensen, was born February 19, 1945. At that time, Stanley was recovering in an Army hospital in England from war injuries.

Upon Stanley's return from the service, they continued to live in Mahnomen where Gay worked in several business offices including the Mahnomen Co-op Creamery and Wild Rice Electric Cooperative. Stanley returned to carpentry and construction work, which he had learned from his father.

Gay was a longtime member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen and the Mahnomen Legion Auxiliary. One of her projects was to place flags at the graves of service members for Memorial Day.

Gay had a long, productive, and happy life. She was blessed with many loving relatives and friends. Gay was predeceased by her husband, Stanley, on February 20, 1997, and her daughter, Karen, on January 25, 2009, as well as her parents, brothers, and sisters. She was the last remaining member of her immediate and parental family. Her wish for the family reunion in Heaven has been granted.

Memorials may be made to the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 at 2 pm at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Mahnomen. Visitation will be held one hour prior to mass on Friday with a rosary starting at 1:15pm all at the church. Burial will be in the St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery.