Gladys Pinske, age 87, of Twin Valley, Minnesota, died Monday, May 4, 2009, in Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley.

Gladys Mae Ellingworth was born April 24, 1922, in Lake Ida Township. Daughter to Abner and Barbara Ellingworth, Gladys lived in the local area all of her life. Gladys worked as a housekeeper at various local farms in the area where she met Ben Pinske. Ben and Gladys were married on February 28, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After their marriage, they lived on a farm near Gary, Minnesota, where the raised beef cattle and small grain crops. They also had a family zoo with many exotic animals. Living on the farm was a very active life for Gladys and Ben. While Ben did the farming, Gladys kept very busy with raising children, making meals, driving to town for machinery parts, running the household, and tending her large vegetable and flower gardens. Gladys would make huge meals for the hired hands, friends, and family who helped erect the new barn on the home place or help with thrashing in the fall.

After Ben died in 1989, Gladys continued to live on the family farm until January, 1997, when, as the result of complications from diabetes, she decided to move into the Twin Valley Living Center. Gladys thrived in the Living Center where she met her best buddy, Jennet Osgaard. Gladys and Jennet spent many hours together quilting, playing whist, telling jokes, and taking an occasional trip to the local casino.

Gladys is survived by three sons, David (Jan) Pinske, Ronald (Kathy) Pinske, and Leland (Sharon) Pinske all of Gary, MN and a daughter, Jean Pinske of Apple Valley, MN; brothers, Gordon Ellingworth of Young America, MN, Phillip (Lucy) Ellingworth of Gary, MN and Maynard Ellingworth of Twin Valley, MN; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two daughters, three brothers and two sisters.

Celebration of Life Services was held on Saturday, May 9th, at 11:00AM in Trinity Lutheran Church, Twin Valley.
Burial was taken place in St. William Catholic Cemetery, Twin Valley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to be sent to the Gary Fire Department, Twin Valley Fire Department or the Twin Valley Living Center Activity Fund which will be used by the residents for bus ride trips around the countryside and other fun events that Gladys loved.

To view additional tributes and stories, please visit Gladys' Caringbridge website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/gladyspinske