Gladys "Pat" Julia Owan

Gladys Julia (Lien) Owan, age 82, of Maricopa, Arizona, passed away peacefully in her home on August 3, 2021. Gladys was born on June 30, 1939, daughter of Joe and Ruth (Tibbits) Lien at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Williston North Dakota. Gladys was baptized in the Lutheran faith on August 6, 1939. She was raised on her parents’ farm and ranch north of Charbonneau, North Dakota. She loved growing up on the North Dakota prairie where Gladys said you could see the beauty of the earth from sunrise to sunset. As a family, they took in the beauty of nature and they enjoyed viewing the beautiful constellations of the dark prairie night skies. The family worked hard through good times and bad. Gladys was so proud to be a daughter of pioneer homesteaders.

Gladys attended Charbonneau School where she graduated from the eighth grade and then went on to Alexander High School. She was active in school. She enjoyed writing poetry, participating and competing in music, cheerleading and the Miss McKenzie County Pageant. Upon high school graduation, Gladys was employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Williston as a telephone operator. She then met Charles Owan, Jr. They were married on January 28, 1961, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Williston. To this union three sons were born; Stephen Charles, Roderic J. and Darren Lynn. Gladys and Charles were busy with their sons’ activities and sports participation from pre-school through college. After her sons were married and had children of their own, Gladys took an active role in the young lives of her grandchildren once again attending many school and sports’ activities. Her family was her pride and joy.

Gladys is survived by her sister Marge Brown; her sons Stephen (Toni) and Roderic (Mariane);her grandchildren Cassandra (Scott) Calkins, Danika Owan, Carissa (Matt) Bruce, Christopher Owan and Caitlyn (Jordan) Hansen; her great-grandchildren Harper, Owan, Bryleigh, Reagan, Jackson, Ella Rose and William. Additionally, she had many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and dear friends.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Ruth (Tibbits) Lien; husband Charles; son Darren; infant baby sister Mary Ruth; sisters Mildred Wangerud and Shirley Bottke; nephews LaVern Brown and David Monson; nieces Patricia Monson Wagner, Susan Monson Kruckenberg, Maxine Lee Strickland and Kathy Lee Prell; and first cousin Thomas Melland.