Gladys Maude Nephew, 93, of Fertile, MN, died on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at Riverview Hospital, Crookston, MN. She was born on February 22, 1922, to Oscar and Mina (Larson) Aune in Sundal Township, Norman County. Gladys was baptized and confirmed at Sundal Lutheran Church, rural Gary, MN. She attended country school near her home. Following her schooling, Gladys worked as domestic help for various farm families.

On October 6, 1940, Gladys was united in marriage to Frank Nephew Jr., in a double wedding with her sister, Marian and Jeffrey Everson, at Sundal Lutheran Church, rural Gary. Gladys and Frank were married 58 years. They lived about four miles north of Fertile and in the fall of 1971 they moved into Fertile. Over the years, Gladys worked at Bruce Larson's Town and Country Café for four years and, in 1982, was hired in Dietary at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home, Fertile. She retired on December 31, 1992. Frank died on February 16, 1998, and Gladys continued to live at home. She entered the Fair Meadow Nursing Home on April 20, 2007.

Gladys was a wife and homemaker before anything else. While raising her children, Gladys was steady, firm and a wonderful example of character and faith to her children. Gladys always had coffee, fresh cookies, donuts, and, when in season, lefse available to all who came by the house. Life at the Nephew home was grounded in Church Life and being responsible students and family members. Her joys were music, gardening, both vegetables and flowers, quilting, snowmobiling, card playing with family and friends, church choir, dancing, being a part of the Ladies aid, and visiting with family and friends. Yet, her most satisfying times were when all her children were together sharing a meal, talking and working together.

Gladys is survived by five sons: Roger (Judy), Fertile; Douglas (Norma), Fertile; Dennis (Darlene), Moorhead, MN; Brian, Fertile, and Bruce, Fertile/Shafer, MN; four daughters: Janice (Victor) Lorleberg, Coon Rapids, MN; Susan (Richard) Halstensgard, Greenbush, MN; Nancy (David) Kolb, Andover, MN; and Brenda (Timothy) Miller, Grand Marais, MN; 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren; three sisters: Marian Everson, Greenbush, MN; Harriet Olson, Fertile, MN; Alvina Smokov, Anaheim, CA, and one sister-in-law: Lois Aune, Chisago City, MN; many nephews, nieces and cousins. Gladys is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, an infant son, Wesley, one great-grandchild, four brothers: Melvin, Selmer, Clarence, and Odin; three sisters: Helen Ellegard, Bernice Ellegard, and Irene Halstensgard, three sisters-in-law and six brothers-in-law.


Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at 10:30 AM in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 14, 2015, from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in the South Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.