Gloria C. D. Wigtil

Gloria Constance Delaine Wigtil was born August 25, 1927, in Esmond, ND. She was a daughter of D.G. and Cora Woyen Aanestad. Gloria was baptized and confirmed by her grandfather, the Rev. H.M. Aanestad in Esmond. Her family moved to Minnewaukan, ND, when she was young, where her father was County Superintendent of Schools in Benson County. At the age of five, Gloria had the honor of presenting President Franklin Roosevelt with a bouquet of flowers as he traveled through Minnewaukan and surrounding areas. She attended grades one through six in Minnewaukan, before her family returned to Esmond, where she attended grades seven through eleven. Gloria's family then moved to Walcott, ND. During her senior year of high school she met Wendell Wigtil while he was on furlough. They sparked a relationship before he was sent overseas and served in the European Theater. Gloria and Wendell kept in touch over the next two years through the letters they wrote. After graduating from high school in 1945, Gloria worked at the Nash Finch Company in Fargo, ND, until she attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She then worked as a secretary for the Executive Director of North Dakota Blue Cross/ Blue Shield in Fargo, for seven and half years. Gloria married Wendell on June 30, 1950, at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. Together they had three children, Gregory, Mary and Douglas. After raising her family, she went back to work as Secretary for Park, Sabin, and Thomas Edison Elementary Schools, where she spent twenty-two years. Gloria and her family spent much of their time at Lake Crystal where she enjoyed growing flowers, walking, watching birds and visiting with friends and neighbors. Gloria was a Charter Member of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where for several years she attended Circle, was Secretary of the Altar Guild and assembled the monthly news letter, The Shepherd.Gloria is survived by her husband, Wendell; children, Gregory Wigtil, Fargo, ND, Mary Wigtil, Moorhead, MN, Douglas Kay Wigtil, Jewett Lake, Fergus Falls, MN; grandchildren, Nickolas and Rachelle Wigtil; brothers, Arden Aanestad, Edina, MN, Robert Alice Aanestad, Isle, MN; sister, Corrine Lester Zimmerman, Fargo, ND; an aunt, an uncle, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.She was preceded in death by her parents, D.G. and Cora Aanestad.