Gladys Judith Mork, 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 17, 2011, at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming. She was born at her family's farm home near Boyd, Minnesota, on January 5, 1913. Her parents, Oscar and Mattie Lukken, descendants of Norwegian immigrants, were farmers who loved the land and farming life. Following graduation from Boyd High School in 1931, Gladys continued to live with her parents, helping them to keep their farm during the Great Depression. A blind date led to "the man of her dreams," Orville Mork. They were married December 27, 1935. He was a magazine salesman with a small crew of men who traveled from town to town, selling magazine subscriptions. Despite the Depression and the dubious economic nature of Orville's work, he and Gladys made a go of it, traveling from Minnesota throughout the Dakotas into Montana. Orville and his crew took care of the sales while Gladys cooked, washed, ironed, sewed and managed the books. With the approach of WWII, they returned to Minnesota, settling in Clarkfield, a farming community not far from Boyd. With a loan from his parents (which they repaid), they purchased a hardware store, operating it for years. That led to successful involvement with a GM dealership and building line for REA. When their only child, Marlene Joan, arrived, Gladys devoted her considerable energies to raising Marlene. More than mother and daughter, they became "best friends for life." On July 28, 1965, Orville died after a brief illness, leaving Gladys with business responsibilities which she accepted with remarkable effort, skill and poise. In addition to managing the hardware store, she cared for her parents, fulfilling in a way, her childhood dream to become a nurse. After the death of both parents she moved to her new home in Laramie, Wyoming, reuniting with her family, Marlene, Robert and John. In Laramie she cultivated new friends through Trinity Lutheran Church, her volunteer work at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, involvement at the Eppson Center, and a passion for UW Cowboy/Cowgirl athletics. She also continued her interest in Order of the eastern Star as she had been a Past Matron of Chapter 296, OES, in Clarkfield. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Orville, her parents and her daughter, Marlene. She is survived by her son-in-law Robert and his wife Jane; grandson John and his wife Megan Hanneman; four great grandchildren: Katie, Kara, Koby and Kylie; her brother Donald and wife Alyce of Clarkfield; several nieces and nephews both in Minnesota and Arizona; and loving family members in Illinois. Gladys will be missed by family and friends. She lived her faith and loved her Lord. Memorial Services were held at Trinity Lutheran Church of Laramie, Wyoming, on January 28th.