Gladys Ruth Erstad

CORVALLIS - Gladys Ruth Erstad passed away peacefully on December 2, 2017 at Aaron Care surrounded by family.  Gladys was 98 years young.  

Both of her parents were Norwegian immigrants living in New York.  Her father, Eilert Olsen, died of Spanish flu before Gladys was born on March 27, 1919.  After her birth her mother took her and her brother Ed (5) back to Norway to live on her grandmother's farm. They returned to the U.S. when she was six.  Her mother worked as a domestic to support them, so life was difficult, but Gladys was always surrounded by loving, caring people.  Her kindness and charity were a constant reflection of her Christian upbringing.  

As a young woman, she married another Norwegian, Tennes Inge Erstad, who was a patent attorney.  They were married for 55 years and had four cherished daughters, Karen Ehring (Ed), Jane Schmidt (Don), Ingrid Lohman (Steve) and Chris Ollis (Bo).  When Gladys and Tennes retired they moved to a small ranch in Florida for an adventure raising a few cows.

After Tennes passed on, Gladys moved to North Carolina to be near her children and eventually moved to Montana to be with another daughter.  She spent the last six years of her life in the mountains just as she had spent the first six years in the mountains of Norway.  Her advice to live a long healthy life was: "Just keep working and doing what you have to do.  Be kind, smile a lot and laugh at things even if you have to laugh at yourself."  Everyone who met Gladys had a special blessing.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Tennes; and her daughter, Karen.  She is survived by her three daughters, ten grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.   

A memorial service will be held in Florida at a later date.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made in Gladys’ name to the charity of the donor’s choice.  The family would like to thank all of her caregivers and friends who gave Gladys such wonderful care for several years.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.