Gladys Hammer, 90, died on Wednesday, May 25, 2006 at First Care Nursing Home in Fosston, MN.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at Oak Park Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, Minnesota with Pastor Joseph Abrahamson, officiating. Burial will be in the Clearwater Cemetery, rural Oklee.

Visitation will be from 5:00 " 8:00 PM on Monday, May 29, 2006 with a prayer service held at 7:00 PM at Johnson Funeral Service, Oklee and will continue one hour prior to the service in the church.

Gladys Olson was born June 12, 1915 in Colton, SD the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Myre) Olson. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith in Colton, SD. At an early age, Gladys moved to Racine, WI with her family where she attended elementary school. Later the family moved to Sioux Falls, SD and Minot, ND.

In Minot, Gladys was united in marriage to Edwin Hammer on September 9, 1933. The couple made their home in Minot until 1939 when they purchased a farm in Equality Township near Oklee, MN and farmed with the Hammer family. To this union three children were born, Marlin, Shirley and Erma. Through the years, Gladys primary focus was to care for her family. She worked at Oklee Quilting and at Arctic Cat in the sewing department in the 1960s.

In 1967 they sold the farm and moved to Thief River Falls where they lived for a short time, then moved into Oklee where they cared for Edwins mother, Severina Hammer. In the late 1970s they moved to Fosston, MN. Edwin died in 1982 and Gladys continued to reside in Fosston until the time of her death.

Gladys was a member of the Clearwater Lutheran Church and then became a member of Oak Park Lutheran Church when they merged. Her church was a huge part of her life. She was a very gentle lady, her family and friends were very special to her. She considered her sons-in-law and daughter-in-law as her own children.

Gladys enjoyed crocheting and made hundreds of angels and countless other items. She enjoyed attending events at the Embassy Center in Fosston; she enjoyed playing cards, watching and feeding the birds, watching golf on television-was a big fan of Tiger Woods, and always enjoyed traveling with her family and with her good friend, Mavis Brekke.

Survivors include 3 children, Marlin (Anne) Hammer of Oklee, MN, Shirley (Bloyd) Ness of Gonvick, MN and Erma (Dwayne) Murray of Surprise, AZ; 10 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild; brother, Henry (Hattie) Olson of Lodi, CA; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandsons, Terry and Todd; great grandson, Max; brothers, Lester and Ernest; and sisters, Aleda Jacobson and Lorraine Nordrum.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Nancy Teigland
SOLOIST: Donna Fossum
SELECTIONS: Just As I Am and Children Of The Heavenly Father
SPECIAL MUSICAL SELECTION: Savior Again To Thy Dear Name by Abrahamson Children
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: What A Friend We Have In Jesus ELH 385
CASKETBEARERS: Arlan Fore, Orin Syrtveit, Arlen Brekke, Dale Brekke, Dick Holen, Robert Ralph