Gladys Palen

Our faithful loving mother died on June 4, 2020, twelve days before her 94th birthday.

Her children, Julie and Ted, were with her when she was welcomed into the arms of Jesus.

Mom was born in South Dakota and at an early age moved to Minnesota. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson high school in St. Paul Minnesota in 1945. She loved to sing and was in the school and church choirs. She gave her life to the Lord at an early age and continued to be a faithful follower of Jesus until he called her home.

After high school graduation she worked for Brown and Bigelow in St. Paul. She met Elmer Palen in the summer of 1948, and they were married on November 25, 1948. Together they established a home in Mounds View, Minnesota.

Elmer and Herwanna were active members of First Covenant Church in Minneapolis Minnesota. She sponsored children through World Vision and supported the Billy Graham evangelistic association.

She loved her family, her flower gardens, her husband. She worked for more than 30 years as the head bookkeeper a First State Bank of New Brighton.

After the death of her husband she moved to Denver Colorado. Even though she developed dementia in these last few years she still loved to sing and loved the Lord. She sang to the nursing home staff and often witnessed to them about Jesus and his love.

Herwanna is survived by her sister, Gloira Busse; brother, Dan Gross; a son, Ted and his wife Karen, a daughter, Julie and her husband Larry, one grandson and 3 granddaughters, and 3 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Gross and brother Donald Gross.

A memorial service will be held later after the COVID pandemic has eased.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at https://billygraham.org/