Gladys Nora Jensen, 94, passed away peacefully in her home on December 11, 2018. She was born in Red Lodge, MT on August 16, 1924 to Martin and Sigrid Lofthus. She, along with her siblings attended a local one room schoolhouse (often on horseback) for their elementary education. She then attended the Lutheran Brethren Bible School in Minnesota for 4 years of high school and 2 years of Bible school. Gladys remained in Minnesota for 2 years of employment before moving to SI and was then employed at Zurich Insurance Co., NYC.
On August 26, 1951 she married Barney Jensen and together they raised their two daughters on Staten Island. She was a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church and loved serving her Lord however she could. Her ministry involvement included singing and playing music, leading a Pioneer Girls Club and Mission Friends, teaching Sunday School and Women’s Bible Study. She and Barney were also instrumental in the formation and ongoing ministry of Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA.
Gladys was an accomplished seamstress from an early age sewing dresses, coats and gowns for herself, friends and her girls. Her wonderful sense of style was put to good use at JCPenney in women’s fashions for 21 years.
She is survived by loving daughters June Bentson (Allen) of Branchville, NJ and Becky Braisted of Staten Island, NY; three cherished grandsons, Eric (Lisa) Bentson, Scott (Kristen) Benston and Timothy Braisted; five great-grandchildren she adored, Benjamin, Kaia, Kelsey, Greyson and Madison Bentson; a sister Inez Kramp of Manassas VA, and sisters-in-law Doris Lofthus of Des Moines, IA , Marie Jensen of Hudson, FL, Myrt Jensen of Fergus Falls, MN and Gunnie Jensen of Staten Island, NY.
She was predeceased by her loving husband of 39 years, Barney, in 1991, her dear son-in-law Jim Braisted Jr. in 2008; her parents and three siblings, Irvin, Nina and Tillie Lofthus.
Visitation will be held on Friday from
4 – 6 pm at the Harmon Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on Saturday December 15, 2018 at 11:00 am in Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church 233 Westcott Blvd. Interment will follow at Ocean View Cemetery.
If so desired, contributions in Gladys’ memory to Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church, Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center, or
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy would be greatly appreciated.
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