Gladys Brosseau

Gladys Brosseau, 93, of Drayton, North Dakota, died Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks. Gladys was born January 24, 1920, on the family farm west of Nash, North Dakota, the daughter of John and Johanna (Dahl) Rutherford. She was raised and educated in Walsh County and rural Nash schools and graduated from Hoople High School in 1938. Gladys and two of her sisters, Alfreda (Babe) and Mabel owned and operated a ladies fashion shop in Drayton in the early 1940's . In May of 1941 she met and fell in love with her life's companion, Dean Brosseau, just out of Molar Barber College in Fargo, and who'd bought and set up a barber shop directly across the street from her apparel business. With World War II raging, Dean was drafted into the army and sent to basic training, desert maneuvers and eventually the ground war in France, Belgium, Austria and Germany. In the midst of all this they were married on November 15, 1942. Gladys was in the restaurant business with her sister (Babe's Drive-In), worked for a local clothier and then on January 1, 1956 went to work at Drayton State Bank where she remained for the next 26 years as a teller, cashier and Vice-President. She was a self-taught pianist, canvas painter and a closet poet. Dean passed away on January 29, 1992, just 10 months short of their 50th wedding anniversary. Gladys and Dean as a team were an attractive and accomplished musical couple, and would often entertain at community and family events with their vocal duets, Gladys on lead and Dean singing tenor. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Nichol, Delbert (Rudy), Joseph, Kenneth and Marvin (Jim) and sisters, Harriett, Leona, Alfreda and Mabel. Gladys is survived by her two sons, James (Jolene) Brosseau of Grand Forks and Jon (Robin) Brosseau of Drayton; 7 grandchildren: Ben Brosseau, Thomas Brosseau both of Los Angeles, Carrie (Josh) Sapa, Grand Forks; Jennifer (Craig) Jensen,Sammamish, WA, Deborah Henrickson, Fargo, Emily (Bob) Spencer, Aurora, CO, and Alex (Caitlin) Brosseau, Washington DC. She is also survived by 8 great grandchildren; Isaac, Carter and Tate Jensen; Benjamin, William and Theodore Henrickson and twins Jonathon and Cameron Spencer and one sister, Clarice Astrup, Fargo as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held 1:00 PM Friday, May 10, 2013 at Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks with visitation one hour prior to the service. The family suggests that memorials be considered for Valley Memorial Homes or Altru Health Systems We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep. -- William Shakespeare