Gladys Brosseau, 93, of Drayton, North Dakota, died Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks.

Gladys was born January 24, 1920, on the family farm west of Nash, North Dakota, the daughter of John and Johanna (Dahl) Rutherford. She was raised and educated in Walsh County and rural Nash schools and graduated from Hoople High School in 1938. Gladys and two of her sisters, Alfreda (Babe) and Mabel owned and operated a ladies fashion shop in Drayton in the early 1940's .

In May of 1941 she met and fell in love with her life's companion, Dean Brosseau, just out of Molar Barber College in Fargo, and who'd bought and set up a barber shop directly across the street from her apparel business. With World War II raging, Dean was drafted into the army and sent to basic training, desert maneuvers and eventually the ground war in France, Belgium, Austria and Germany. In the midst of all this they were married on November 15, 1942. Gladys was in the restaurant business with her sister (Babe's Drive-In), worked for a local clothier and then on January 1, 1956 went to work at Drayton State Bank where she remained for the next 26 years as a teller, cashier and Vice-President. She was a self-taught pianist, canvas painter and a closet poet.

Dean passed away on January 29, 1992, just 10 months short of their 50th wedding anniversary. Gladys and Dean as a team were an attractive and accomplished musical couple, and would often entertain at community and family events with their vocal duets, Gladys on lead and Dean singing tenor.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Nichol, Delbert (Rudy), Joseph, Kenneth and Marvin (Jim) and sisters, Harriett, Leona, Alfreda and Mabel.

Gladys is survived by her two sons, James (Jolene) Brosseau of Grand Forks and Jon (Robin) Brosseau of Drayton; 7 grandchildren: Ben Brosseau, Thomas Brosseau both of Los Angeles, Carrie (Josh) Sapa, Grand Forks; Jennifer (Craig) Jensen,Sammamish, WA, Deborah Henrickson, Fargo, Emily (Bob) Spencer, Aurora, CO, and Alex (Caitlin) Brosseau, Washington DC. She is also survived by 8 great grandchildren; Isaac, Carter and Tate Jensen; Benjamin, William and Theodore Henrickson and twins Jonathon and Cameron Spencer and one sister, Clarice Astrup, Fargo as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 10, 2013 at Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks with visitation one hour prior to the service.

The family suggests that memorials be considered for Valley Memorial Homes or Altru Health Systems

We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
-- William Shakespeare



Prior to our marriage November 15, 1942, my sisters Alfred (Babe), Mabel and I owned and operated a Ladies Apparel Shop in Drayton, ND.
In May 1941, Dean, just out of Barber College, bought a barbershop in Drayton, which was directly across the street from our shop. He was young and handsome and it wasn't long before we started dating. We had so many good times together in our young care carefree days. After a few months we began to talk of marriage. Now the war was raging, and Dean got his draft notice to register and report to Fort Snelling in Minneapolis on November 9, 1942. Regardless of what others thought, we decided to get married.
Our honeymoon was brief. He left for basic training in Camp Adair, Oregon ten days
later. After two or three months, I joined him there. When he was sent to Yuma,
Arizona for desert maneuvers, I was not allowed to go with him, so my sister-in-law
Phyllis (also a war bride) and I got enough ration stamps for gas and we drove back to Drayton.

Gladys Lucille (Rutherford) Brosseau (1954)


meet his son for the first time. Then it was overseas duty, so he got on the troop ship headed for Europe.
On February 23, 1945, Jon Hubert was born. Dean came home after the war was over (VE Day June, 1945), and made the acquaintance of his second son. We settled in a modest home in Drayton, which was across the street from the school. This is where the boys grew up. We lived there until they graduated from High School. Dean went back to barbering. These were very happy years. There wasn't a lot of money, but we had many good times together. The boys were active in all of the school activities: basketball, baseball, music, etc. We enjoyed all of these things, and tried to go to all of their games both home and away. We felt blessed to have two strong boys and so thankful to have Dean back home safely.
January 1, 1956, I went to work at the Drayton State Bank with the intention of working a year or two to 'help out.' In January of 1982, twenty-six years later, I retired from that position.
In 1965 Dean went to work for American Crystal Sugar Company as Chief Clerk in the office. After a few weeks he was promoted to Office Manager. He retired in 1982. Dean passed away January 29, 1992, ten months short of our 50th wedding anniversary.
After graduating from Medical College, Jim went on to become a physician. He has been associated with Altru Clinic and Hospital since 1978. Jon graduated from UND Law School and has had his own private practice in Drayton for the past 33 years.
Our best times have been spent with our sons, their wives, and our seven grandchildren. Four great grandsons have also joined our family.