Gladys Mae (Hester) Laager

Gladys M. Laager, age 103, a longtime resident of Calumet, MN, passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, in Hallock, MN.

She was born on May 9, 1920, in Mineral, Virginia, to James and Janie (Dickenson) Hester.  During her youth, Gladys worked as a clerk at the Bumpass department store in Mineral and the Legette’s department store in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Subsequently, she relocated to Washington, DC.

It was during her time in Washington, DC that she crossed paths with her future husband, Lowell Laager, who was serving in the United States Navy during World War II. They exchanged vows on January 24, 1945, in Saint Paul, MN.  After the war, they moved to Saint Paul, where Lowell briefly worked for the railroad, before eventually making their home in Calumet, MN, in 1947.  Lowell worked at Cleveland Cliffs, while Gladys worked as a clerk at Lynch’s Store in Calumet.

Gladys was an active member of the Calumet Community Church and found joy in singing with the choir.  Her hobbies included gardening, fishing—particularly ice fishing—and snowmobiling.  She delighted in attending her grandchildren’s snowmobile races and embarked on extensive travels across all fifty states alongside Lowell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell, her parents, James and Janie, as well as her siblings: James Russell Hester, Willard Hester, Janie Ruth Hester, Mabel Kent, and Lillian Anderson.

Gladys is survived by her son, James (Linda) Laager, of Lancaster, MN, along with her grandchildren: Richard (Ana) Laager and their children, Clifford, Florence, and Lowell, residing in Thief River Falls, MN; and Alicia (Justin) Warren, together with their children, Asher and Wrenley, residing in Fargo, ND. Additionally, she leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until 11:00 am, followed by the funeral service on Friday, August 25, 2023, at the Calumet Community Church.  The interment will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Coleraine

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