Gloria Grinter

Gloria Jeanette (Johnson) Grinter, 91, of rural Conway, passed into the presence of the Lord Saturday, May 28, 2016 at First Care Health Center Hospital, Park River.

Gloria was born on the family farm near Dahlen, North Dakota October 8, 1924 to John I. and Gina (Jarstad) Johnson. She was baptized and confirmed at Quale Lutheran Church, rural Dahlen. She attended rural school near her home and graduated from Dahlen High School in 1942. She was a graduate of Mayville State Teachers College. She was a public school teacher for 20 years. Her first four years were at rural schools near Conway and Lankin in one-room school houses. For the next seven years she taught at Petersburg, McVille, and Larimore, where she taught the primary grades. The last nine years of her teaching were at Lankin. She enjoyed all her years of teaching, retiring in 1979. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Gloria married Lionel Grinter, the son of Mel and Mabel Grinter, on June 24, 1951 and they made their home on the Grinter family farm near Conway. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fordville She took her spiritual life very seriously and taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Bible studies. She was a member of the Ladies Aid. Lionel and Gloria celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the Fordville Presbyterian Church. Recently she had been a member of the Federated Church in Park River.

She was a 25-year member of the Valley Rose Homemakers Club and was active in the Walsh County Fair, receiving many ribbons, including the sweepstakes award for her baking. The well-groomed gardens at her home were a visual treat for anyone visiting the farm. Gloria delighted in having people in her home and was a wonderful hostess. Visitors to her home would be graciously treated to a cup of coffee and a delicious lunch. Gloria and Lionel enjoyed Square dancing with the Dahlen Rollaways and they were involved with the ministry of STEER Inc.

Following a car accident July 9, 2004 when her husband, Lionel passed away, she made her home at the Sunrise Estates Apartments in Park River.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lionel, sisters Opal Halstenson, Niagara, and Iverna Machart, Grand Forks, her brothers John Henry and Ingdolph Johnson, and brothers-in-law Louis Machart and Myron Halstenson.

Surviving Gloria are her son, Randy Grinter of Park River, grandson Samuel Grinter of Fargo, brothers Oliver (Lorna) Johnson of Grand Forks, Lloyd (Margaret) Johnson of Shakopee Minnesota, and many nephews and nieces.

FUNERAL SERVICES: 2 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fordville, ND.

VISITATION: Thursday, June 2 from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service held in the Bakke Funeral Home in Fordville, ND. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral in the church on Friday.

INTERMENT: Inkster Cemetery, Inkster, ND.