Gloria Wilkinson

Gloria Wilkinson, 96, of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, July 28, 2019, at Park Gardens in Fergus Falls.

Gloria (Mersy) Wilkinson was born on October 29, 1922 in Oklee, Minnesota, the youngest of ten children born to John and Margret (Vaughn) Mersy.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee.  Gloria’s mother passed away when she was eighteen months old and was raised by her father and older siblings.

Gloria attended elementary school in Oklee and then St. Joseph’s Academy High School in Crookston, MN, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1940.  She received a four-year scholarship to the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN, and graduated with a degree in education in 1944.  She taught secondary mathematics in Cannon Falls, Pine City, Parkers Prairie, and Underwood, MN, retiring in January of 1985.

On April 5, 1947, Gloria married William Wilkinson at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Minneapolis.  They moved to Fergus Falls in 1948, where William started working for OtterTail Power Company.

Gloria’s interests included traveling with her husband throughout Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the United States socializing with friends, reading, doing volunteer work, tutoring students and adults in Mathematics and going to the casino.

She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church since 1948, Catholic Daughters of America for over 50 years, St. Roberts mission circle of which she was a charter member and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

She is survived by her sons, Thomas (fiancé Pam Phillips) Wilkinson and Stephen (Xiao Li) Wilkinson, both of Fergus Falls; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kimberly Wallace and son Cody of Florida; Chris (Jenny) Van Dyke and children Summer, Alanna, Ezra, and Micah of Wisconsin; Michael Wilkinson of Arizona; Sierra (Tommy) Walkenback and children Ashley, Shae, Brady, and Aubrey of Arizona; Carmen Wilkinson and children Colby and Caitlyn of Austin, MN; Allison Wilkinson of Nashville, TN; Sara and children Andrew and Sam; and Mathew Wilkinson of Fergus Falls.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, William; son, Michael on July 28, 1996; grandson, Chad on March 13, 1982; sisters, Nona Mackey, Loretta Swanson, Alta Boosalis, Velma Grandil, Yural Scarratt, Eunice Mackey, Joyce Erickson, Irene LaCoursina, and John Mersy.

Gloria will be deeply missed by her family, friends and the many students who’s live she touched and affected during her many years of teaching.  Rest in peace, Gloria!

Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Wednesday, with a 6:30 PM Rosary, followed by a Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home Fergus Falls, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11 AM Thursday, August 1, 2019, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski and Father Bill Gamber

Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery, Fergus Falls

Online Guestbook: GlendeNilson.com

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