Gladys M. Nixon

Gladys Muriel Nixon May 12, 1917 – December 1, 2010. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 6, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Peter Sharpe will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church for one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Gladys will be Rick Mukomela, Mark Mukomela, Tory Nixon, Brandon Nixon, Chuck Nixon and Jarrod Nixon. Our mother, Gladys M. Nixon died December 1, 2010 in Devils Lake, ND. The oldest daughter of Gilbert and Mabel (Johnson) Nelson, Gladys was born on May 12, 1917 in Thief River Falls, Minn. In 1936, Gladys married Russel Nixon and helped establish the family farm near Southam where they raised six children. While Russel and the boys farmed, Gladys, with daughter Gwen at her side, tended to the never-ending women’s work. When Gwen went away to college Gladys drove to Devils Lake daily to return to the retail work she began at S&L in the years before the farm. She then worked at Mann’s, Barkers and Glickson’s clothing stores. Russel and Gladys eventually moved to Devils Lake and were active in the Eagles. Gladys served as an officer in the Eagles ladies auxillary and she also enjoyed being a cocktail waitress at the Eagles and Elks. Gladys and Russel were active in the North Dakota state Democratic party and attended national delegate conventions. To the enjoyment of her family, Gladys loved singing and didn’t need much coaxing to raise her voice to “Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait” as well as her native Norwegian songs. Through the years, she so enjoyed celebrations with her “birthday lunch ladies.” She took great delight in winning at cards, losing….well, not so much. She heartily enjoyed socializing, everything from barn dances of old to the kids and grandkids coming home for a visit. At her 90th birthday bash at the VFW, four generations of Nixon ladies were seen cruising away in a bright, blue mustang convertible. In addition to her parents, Gladys is preceded in death by husband Russel, son Russel (Pat) and two infant sons. She is survived by daughter Gwen (Ken) Mukomela of Marshall, Minn.; sons Chuck (Jan) of Phoenix, Az., Terry, Will, and Jim (Jane ) all of Devils Lake. Gladys’ sister Lila Nash and brother Richard Nelson also preceded her death. Surviving siblings include Doris Skavhaug of Park River, ND, Virgil Nelson of Eugene, Ore., and Gerald (Bobby) Nelson of Rapid City, S.D. Gladys had 19 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild on the way. In addition, she had numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends who will miss her dearly.