Gladys was born April 27, 1927 in rural Faribault County, Minnesota to Edwin and Inger (Anderson) Sunde. Her family moved to Rake, Iowa where she grew up and graduated from high school. She attended Waldorf College and graduated with an Associate of Education degree.
While working at KGLO in Mason City, Gladys met a handsome fellow named Don Peterson. They corresponded while he served in the Army, married on September 6, 1953, and moved to Ames. As their family grew, they moved to various cities and towns in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. In 1985 they moved back to the Des Moines area.
Gladys had a strong faith in God and her church was an important part of her life. With each move, finding a church home was a priority. She participated in church activities in a variety of ways throughout her life.
Gladys was a wonderful mother to Martha (Jim) Ludeking, Sara (Steve) Merkey, Karen Bandy, Deana (Jim) Jacobs, and Ann Ruckdaschel. Patient, kind, gracious, and wise, she made teaching values and unconditional love her calling. She supported her family in all their endeavors.
Her 16 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren were the delight of her life. She was always interested in their activities and whatever they had going on in their lives. Going to Grandma’s house always involved playing board games, kringla and hamballs.
Hospitality came naturally to Gladys and she loved setting a table for food and conversation. She had a long list of people to whom she sent cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and other occasions hoping they would arrive on “the day”.
In her 95 years, Gladys touched many lives, and in her own words, she “had a wonderful, beautiful life”!
