Gloria Bergstrom, age 94, of Twin Valley, MN, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Benedictine Care Community in Ada, MN.

Gloria Ellen (Begg) Bergstrom was born on September 14, 1930, near Westport, MN to Sherman and Edna Begg. At two years of age, Gloria moved with her family to Ulen, MN. She attended country school Dist. 105 until 6th grade and then attended Ulen High School for grades 7-12 graduating in 1948. Some of her happiest years were living on the Klodt farm in Hagen Township as a youngster playing with her younger brother Sherman and cousin Lavonne. They lived in a tarpaper shack. Her dad was a migrant worker until he bought his own farm. Gloria said her mom always made their places look like palaces.

After high school graduation, Gloria attended Moorhead State Teachers College for two years. Her first teaching job took her to Fertile, MN. On July 22, 1951, Gloria was united in marriage to Harold Bergstrom at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen where she was also confirmed. They lived on the family farm in Rockwell Township near Twin Valley. Harold passed away in 2010 and Gloria remained on the farm until the fall of 2018, for a total of 67 years on the farm. In November of 2018, Gloria moved into an apartment in Twin Valley- her first time living in town and it took a while for her to adjust, but eventually she loved it there.

Gloria helped on the farm, returned to teaching in 1969, and retired in 1991. Her teaching career was in 2nd and 3rd grade. She loved teaching and was a natural at it. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1990. She was also a Sunday school teacher for many years.  Her most treasured job was being a mom to Julie, Jerry, Diane, and Donna, and grandma to eight grandchildren and great-grandma to nine. She loved taking care of all of them. When her grandchildren described her for her 90th birthday here are things they fondly remembered of their grandma around a campfire: her caramel rolls and her steel-trap mind…she was able to recite a two-page poem at the age of 93 that her mom taught her as she sat on a stool while milking cows back in the 1930's. The grandkids also said she was patient, caring, gentle, always gave big hugs, had a heart of gold, was generous, compassionate, sweet, and a gourmet cook. They also remembered her golden rule: "Always be kind to your siblings".

Her hobbies included watching grandkids, cross stitching, quilting, crocheting, embroidery, needle tatting, canning, gardening, baking, reading, playing cards and she loved to travel. Her love of travel brought her to Europe, Australia, Canada, and many places in the U.S.A. Gloria loved animals especially her cats on the farm and had a special place in her heart for Beefy - Jerry and Karen's dog. As a youngster, her pets include Oscar the crow and Stripes the gopher.

Gloria is survived by her daughter, Julie (Ken) Karl of Sandwich, IL; son, Jerry (Karen) Bergstrom of Twin Valley; daughter, Diane (Brad) Bergerson of Slayton, MN; and daughter, Donna (Dean) Wiger of Lake Park, MN; eight grandchildren: Jillian (Sid) Shivahare of Chicago, IL, Adam (Jenny) Bergerson of Shakopee, MN, Kelli (Brian) Sandvig of Mankato, MN, Anne Bergstrom of Chicago, IL, Erin (John) Lubitz of Moorhead, MN, Matthew (Allison) Bergstrom of Lake Park, MN, Erika Wiger of Lake Park, MN, and Kari (Travis) Seeger of Mahnomen, MN; nine great-grandchildren: Lydia, Ivy, and Crosby Sandvig, Aria and Theo Bergerson, Zoe, Rorik and Iver Lubitz, and Avery Seeger; sister-in-law, Charmayne Bergstrom; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold, her brother Sherman Begg, and her great-grandchild, Zofia Shivahare.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, with a prayer service starting at 6:30, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Twin Valley. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 11:00 am, with the visitation continuing an hour before, at Zion Lutheran Church in Twin Valley.

Memorials preferred to the Benedictine Care Community, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or Zion Lutheran Church.