Gladys Vernette (Hedman) Mathiason Warner, age 96 of Walnut Grove, was born into eternal life on  Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Westbrook Good Samaritan Society. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025 at Old Westbrook Lutheran Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in the Old Westbrook Cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Gladys Vernette (Hedman) Mathiason Warner was born into life July 24, 1928 on the family farm in Storden Township to Alfred and Olga (Gustad) Hedman. She was baptized, confirmed and married in Old Westbrook Lutheran Church where she was an active lifelong member. Gladys attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Storden High School in 1946. She was united in marriage to James Mathiason on June 15, 1947. They raised five children and farmed south of Walnut Grove. Church was central to Gladys’ life. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was an advisor to youth groups and kept busy with Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Gladys also served on the church council and was proud of being the first and only woman to serve as Council Chair at Old Westbrook. James died in 2002. Ten years later, Gladys married Earl Warner. He died in 2017. Gladys will always be remembered for her quick dry (Norwegian) wit. Her idea of exercise was hard work. She was known for painting, especially on 6 mission trips to Greenville, MS and painting her barn at the age of 80. Lefse making and other Norwegian baking was always on the table for Christmas. Gladys had a booth at the 4th of July Walnut Grove Pioneer Festival where she was known as the “lefse lady”. She made numerous quilts for family and missions. Her other loves were cross stitching, reading and mowing the lawn!
Gladys is survived by her children: Gale (William) Jones of Big Lake, Bruce (Thea) Mathiason and Glen (Patti) Mathiason both of Walnut Grove, Melanie (Mike) O’Neil of Andover and Cynthia (Brian) Herbst of Kasson; 13 grandchildren: Craig (April) Jones, Nathan (Khuncha) Jones, Stephanie (Matt) Klaers, Jacob (Wendy) Mathiason, Jane (Justin) Hartman, Jeff (Emily) Mathiason, Jennifer Mathiason, Paul (Angela) Mathiason, Megan O’Neil, Caitlyn (Andrew) Buchanan, Adam (Carrie) Herbst, Aaron Herbst and Eli (Kaitlyn) Herbst; & 22 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands James Mathiason and Earl Warner, infant son James, Jr & her brothers Gordon, Lloyd and Arnold.