Gladys Rethlefsen Bowe

Gladys Josephine Lundquist Rethlefsen Bowe, 100, Red Wing, died Sunday at Valentines Residence in Red Wing. She was born May 22, 1908, in Red Wing, the daughter of Sidney and Josephine (Quamme) Lundquist. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. After graduating from Red Wing Central High School in 1926, she taught in a one room county school in Belvidere. She attended Mankato State College and graduated in 1929 with a teaching degree. She taught elementary school in Mazeppa for the next eight years. After returning to Red Wing and working for two years for the Agriculture Department for Willis Zignego, she met and married Claude Edwin Rethlefsen on September 14, 1940. They moved to Mitchell, SD in 1942 and to LaCrosse, Wisconsin in 1957. Claude died in 1962. She married Andrew Bowe in Red Wing in 1964. She met Andy at Mankato State, and Andy kept informed about Gladys through Sidney (S. S. Lundquist) and mutual friends. Andrew died April 27, 1995. Gladys was active in both Trinity Lutheran of LaCrosse and First Lutheran of Red Wing. She sang in the choir and was a member of the Altar Guild and church circles. She was also a member of the Country Club, the Goodhue County Historical Society, the Sons of Norway and St. John's Hospital Auxiliary Pink Ladies. She was an avid party and duplicate bridge player.

Survivors include three children: John (Ann) Rethlefsen of Winona, Charles (Dorothy McGrane) Rethlefsen of Corvalis, OR, and Carol Rethlefsen of Red Wing; one step-daughter, Janet (James) Dunn of Punta Gorda, FL; twelve grandchildren: Melissa Rethlefsen and Carrie Rethlefsen, Soraya Maskooki, Karin (Kirsten Tefar) Rethlefsen, Candy (Todd) Hagen, Kevin (Jessica) Dunn, Patrick (Renee) Dunn, Shannon (Ovidiu Mihailov) Dunn, Sean Dunn, Tara (Ilya) Berchenko, Jeff Rethlefsen, and Kristie Rethlefsen; numerous great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; one daughter, Marilyn; two brothers, Edward and Richard T. Lundquist, and three sisters, Aleda Kaasa, Evalyn and Marian Lundquist.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009 at First Lutheran Church with Reverend Tom Lee officiating. Private burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church, Valentines Residence or donor's choice. www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.