Gloria Jeanne Gary

About Gloria

Gloria Jeanne Gary, 95, of Bemidji, MN died Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Neilson Place in Bemidji.

Gloria, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend was born October 1, 1928 in Bemidji, MN, the daughter of Elmer and Hazel (Isherwood) Musburger. She attended St. Philip’s Grade School and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1946. That same year she was Homecoming Queen and after graduation she reigned as Miss Bemidji. While in high school she was employed by Western Union, Guyan’s Ready to Wear and the Chief and Bemidji Theaters.

After graduation she was employed as a Service Representative for North Western Bell Telephone Company for 9 years.

She married Vernon “Spike” Gary on November 6, 1948 in Bemidji, MN. They had 3 children, Patrick, Kathy, and Shawn. After resigning from the telephone company, in addition to being a homemaker, she was the bookkeeper for her husband’s company Gary Oil Co.

Gloria was a former member of the Bemidji Skating Club, Ladies Curling Club, North Country Hospital Auxiliary and a life long active member of St. Philip’s Catholic Church. She especially enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels and working with the church funeral committee.

Gloria was an avid reader and loved her family and home dearly. She was a loving wife to Vernon “Spike” for 66 years and caregiver to her husband who had Parkinson’s Disease for 23 years.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Kathy “Kate” (Ken Schlag) Olson and Shawn (Arnie) Andree, 3 brothers, Jim, Jeff, and Jerry Musburger, 3 grandchildren, Eric, Ryan, and Courtney, and 4 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, son Pat, grandson, Ty Andree, sister, Zoe Wright, and brother, Jack Musburger.

memorial service

Graveside services at Holy Cross Cemetery in Bemidji, MN will be held at a later date.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home