Gladys Lenore Anderson, 78, died at her home on December 21, 2010, with her family at her side.

Gladys was born December 20, 1932 in LaMoure County, North Dakota, to George and Lucille Esperum. She was baptized on March 11, 1933 at High Prairie Lutheran Church and confirmed at Marion Lutheran Church in Marion, North Dakota. It was in Marion that Gladys played on the state championship girls basketball team in 1950.

On September 19, 1951, Gladys was united in marriage to Ray Anderson and the couple moved to the Twin Cities in January of 1953. To this union, three boys were born. While in the Twin Cities, Gladys worked as a cook and waitress at a couple of diners. During this time her boys attended schools and the family attended Lebanon Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis. Gladys was also a prolific women's softball player during these days. The family always vacationed in the Alexandria area.

Ray and Gladys moved to Alexandria to retire in 1995. Not long afterwards, Ray died in 1996. Gladys continued to live in the area and attended First Lutheran Church. She will be remembered as a motherly, caring, determined and unselfish woman by her family.

She is survived by her children, Gary, Steven (Becky) and Tim (Lori) Anderson; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Marlin (Bev) Esperum, Dennis (Sandi) Esperum, James (Stephani) Esperum and George Esperum Jr.; sisters, Irene (Harold) Wendt, Alice Larson and Lois (Ray) Ross; brother-in-law, Irvin Anderson; and a loving friend, Pam Schwartz.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband; and brothers, Gordon, Kenny, Robert, Larry and Richard.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, December 28 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Interment was at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis.