Gloria Osmonson

Gloria Osmonson, age 73, of Gully, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 6^th, at her home, with her family by her side, under care of Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 11^th, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Jane Ekholm officiating. Interment will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with an 8:00 p.m. prayer service on Saturday, June 10^th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Gloria Johnson was born on February 2nd, 1950 the second-born daughter of Alice (Colsen) and Elmer Johnson. Gloria was the first baby born in the new Greenbush MN hospital. Gloria moved with her family to rural Fosston MN and attended Fosston Elementary and High School, graduating in the class of 1968. 

Gloria was married to Bennett Osmonson on August 25th, 1968. They moved to Bennett’s family home place, inheriting Bennett’s siblings as her own. Together, they had three children - Erin (1969), Greg (1971), and Cory (1975). Gloria worked on the family farm and ran the household until attending Northland Technical College and acquiring her LPN license in 1982, and her RN in 1983. Her nursing career started as the Inservice Director at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Clearbrook. During her 32-year nursing career, she worked at the Fosston Hospital, North Country Hospital in Bemidji, Northwest Regional Medical Center in Thief River Falls, and Merit Care Same Day Surgery in Bemidji before returning to Fosston Essentia Same Day Surgery until her retirement in 2015. Gloria’s career provided income that helped keep the farm operating in lean years and helped build the life Gloria and Bennett shared together. 

Family was very important to Gloria - organizing and attending many family reunions and get-togethers over the 54 years of her marriage. Gloria was dedicated to assisting those in her life that needed help - caring for her Mother, Alice, and her Daughter, Erin as they dealt with significant health issues. In 2010, after her daughter Erin passed, Erin’s school-aged daughters (Alexi and Nikki) were raised in her home. Gloria also opened her home to care for great-grandkids Erin and Angel. She also loved her friends and neighbors, providing food, and hospitality to anyone who visited.

Gloria was active in Queen Bees Homemakers, a 4-H leader, an active member of Zion, and later Hope Lutheran Church serving time as a church council officer. Gloria was active in the church women’s groups, making many mission quilts. Gloria was an avid crafter - spending her spare time (and money) on quilting and machine embroidery projects. She even adopted some of Bennett’s hobbies as she enjoyed riding along when he flew private aircraft and enjoying riding a Harley Trike during Bike Week in Daytona, Florida. 

Gloria enjoyed traveling spending time in Hawaii and many other U.S. states - mainly related to Farm Bureau and Land-O-Lakes events. Gloria and Bennett spent their 25th Anniversary traveling throughout Europe and spent the past 10 years wintering in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. When she wasn’t traveling, the world came to her as Bennett and Gloria hosted 36 foreign students as part of the Minnesota Agricultural Student Trainee program, hosting students from Europe, the Former Soviet Union, Russia, Asia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America. Gloria and Bennett also hosted Marit Stokka, a relative from Norway for 6 months in 1986.

Gloria is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bennett, and Sons Greg (Julie) Osmonson, and Cory (Jodie) Osmonson. Grandchildren Cody (Briana) Olson, Alexi Howard, Nicole (Matthew Melby) Olson, Emme and Caden Osmonson, Karlie, Hunter, Jayson, Tristen, and Dallas Osmonson. Great Grandchildren Erin Howard, Angel Krueger, Brayden Olson, and Arlen Melby. Sisters Jewell (Dave) Graves and Joyce (Mike) Broden. Sisters-in-law, Faye (Jack) Kroening, Orlett (Larry) Hedlund, Rosie (Jimmy) Goldsmith Brothers-in-laws Dale (Tammy) Osmonson, Duane Evje, and Keith Henderson and son-in-law Brian Olson.

Gloria is proceeded in death by her parents Elmer and Alice (Colsen) Johnson, In-laws Blanchard and Myrtle (Wold) Osmonson, Sister Nancy Henderson, Sister-in-law Marilyn Evje, Daughter Erin Olson, and Nephew Jeff Graves.

The family would like to express our gratitude and thanks to the Joe Lueken Cancer Center and Sanford Health for her care during her cancer journey. We’d also like to thank the Essentia Hospice team and all the family and friends that helped Gloria in her last month of life. Your prayers and support mean more than you will ever know.