Gloria Pearl Landsverk

          Gloria Pearle Landsverk died Monday, September 8th, 2025 at her residence in Aitkin, MN on her 92nd birthday. She was born on Sept. 8th, 1933 in Moorhead, MN to William and Pearle (Nygaard) McAuley. She was raised in Halstad with her brother and two sisters, with whom she remained in close contact throughout her long, full life. Gloria graduated, valedictorian of her class, from Halstad High School and attended Interstate Business College before marrying Arvel “Red” Landsverk on Oct 24th, 1953 in Halstad. They lived in Hendrum, MN, then Moorhead, MN while raising their seven sons. 

          Gloria worked as a bookkeeper at several businesses in Fargo/Moorhead while raising their family and as an insurance clerk at Merit Care in Fargo, ND until her retirement. Throughout their time in Moorhead, Arvel and Gloria were active members of Christ The King Lutheran Church; Arvel sang in the choir and Gloria served on committees and was a member of the quilting circle. Gloria loved to read and loved to encourage children to read. She somehow found time to be involved in Junior Great Books while raising seven sons and being active in her church. Arvel and Gloria’s love of music is reflected by the number of talented musicians among their children.

          She and Arvel loved traveling and visited many European countries. They took many driving trips to the West Coast, which they did each fall for a number of years.

             In 2005, Arvel and Gloria moved to Aitkin, MN so they could be closer to their children that remained in MN and help raise their grandchildren and great grandchildren. In Aitkin, they became members of First Lutheran Church and Gloria again took up quilting with her new friends in Aitkin. Gloria was thrifty and frugal, not to hoard up wealth in this life, but so that she would have something to give others who were in need, whether they were family or strangers.

          The preface of a favorite book of hers, “Gospel Of The Sparrow” (written by Bernice Roysland, a distant cousin of Gloria’s at the age of 93), relates a fable: 

          “The Arabian version of the fable ‘The Sky is Falling’ describes a sparrow lying in the middle of the road, feet up. When questioned by a passing horseman, the little bird replies that he has heard that the sky is falling, and he is holding it up. Laughing, the horseman asks the sparrow if he thinks he can hold up the whole sky by himself. The sparrow stretches its tiny legs and replies, ‘One does what one can.’”

          Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Arvel Landsverk, her parents William McAuley and Pearle (Merriam) Simonson, her brother-in-law Loren Stangeland, and her grand-daughter-in-law Lela Wright-Landsverk.

          Gloria is survived by her sons: Douglas (Susan) Landsverk of MN, Rolf Landsverk of CA, Don Landsverk (Robin Holt) of OR, Eric (Robin) Landsverk of CA, Kris Landsverk of Luxembourg, David Landsverk of MN, Mike (Diana) Landsverk of MT.

Grandchildren: Erik Landsverk, Kevin (Hilary) Landsverk, Jaime Landsverk, Ciara Esser, Samantha Landsverk, Lauren Landsverk, Layla Landsverk, Gabby Landsverk, Anna Landsverk

Great Grandchildren: Chesney Esser, Reecelyn Esser, Sawyer Esser, Adler Esser, Etta Landsverk, Oliver Landsverk, Atticus Landsverk, Finn Landsverk

Siblings: Larry (Barbara) McAuley, Vivian Stangeland, Becky (Harold) Phillips

And many other special relatives and friends who mourn her passing.

Funeral service will be 11am-Saturday, Sept 27th, 2025 at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin, MN.

Pastor Reggie Denton will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be in the Landsverk Cemetary, Fosston, MN, at a later date. Arrangements are with Sorenson-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Aitkin. To leave a message of condolence please go to www.srtfuneral.com

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