Obituary: Verna Gleason

Verna Gleason

McVille, N.D.

Verna Marie (Ruud) Gleason was born on April 16, 1932 at McVille, N.D. On August 31, 2021, Verna died peacefully at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D. Verna was 89 years old. Serving the Lord and love for her family and friends were the foundations for her life, and she did both beautifully with grace and wisdom.

Verna married the love of her life, Harold Thomas Gleason, on November 28, 1949. They lived, worked, and traveled together for over 70 years. When first married, Verna did some waitress work as they traveled around working on grain elevators. She taught school for a number of years in a one-room schoolhouse. Some of her students said she was quite the softball player. The majority of her life was spent at home taking care of her family. Verna taught Sunday school for most of her life well into her 80's. She was also very active in the Right to Life community for the past 40 years, up until her death.

Verna always had a smile on her face and exuded radiance. The door to her home was open 24/7 for friends and family. Always a fresh pot of coffee and some cookies or bars for whomever may drop in. She made everyone feel welcomed and loved. She could visit for hours on end and loved a good game of Scrabble. She always laughed at her husband Harold's jokes, even though she had heard them a hundred times!

She will be greatly missed by her children; sons, Alan Gleason (Leslie), Tolna, N.D.; Dennis Gleason (Dinah), Devils Lake, N.D.; Kevin Gleason, Tolna, N.D., and her daughter, Merri Johnson, West Fargo, N.D.; her sister, Grace Twete and her brother, Curtis Ruud (Linda); her nine grandchildren, Jennifer Parker (Jason), Tricia Griggs (Kerry), Ryan Johnson (Emily), Jason Johnson (Kristin), Elizabeth Perdue (Travis), Joseph Gleason (Vicki), Benjamin Gleason, Natalie Purcell (Rylan) and Timothy Gleason (Allie); her 15 great-grandchildren, Caleb, Austin, Arieal (Alex), Triston, Tessa, Kade, Brielle, Jayden, Knox, Emily, Sara, Jaxton, Zander, Weston and Mollie; and one great-great grandchild, Rayden; and countless nieces and nephews.

Verna was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Ruud; her mother, Viola Ruud (Johnson); and her husband, Harold Gleason.

A celebration of Verna's life will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at New Life Fellowship – 2750 Highway 20 – Tolna, N.D.