Gladys A. Rogeness, 98, of Britt, passed away on Monday, February 2, 2009 at
Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.
Funeral services for Gladys Rogeness will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday,
February 7, 2009 at Zion Church of the Nazarene in Britt with Pastor Ron McKee
officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal
Lake.
Visitation for Gladys Rogeness will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, February 6,
2009 with the family present to greet friends at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178
Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to the services at
the church.
Gladys Agnes (Balk) Rogeness was born June 7, 1910 at Walnut Grove, Minnesota to
Dirk and Lillie Balk. In 1918 the family moved to University Park, Iowa. She
graduated from John Fletcher Academy in University Park in 1929 and completed
her Registered Nurse Degree at Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1931.
On June 18, 1937 she married Roy W. Rogeness and lived on their farm near
Crystal Lake all her married life. Gladys was a member of First United Methodist
Church in Crystal Lake until 1951 and then became a member of the Britt Zion
Church of the Nazarene for her remaining 57 years. She worked as an RN for the
Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt; Dr. Safely in Forest City and Good
Samaritan Nursing Home in Forest City. In the fall of 2003 she moved to The
Summit House in Britt and due to failing health spent her remaining time at the
Britt hospital.
Gladys had a radiant smile for everyone, unconditional love for family and
friends and a deep faith in God. She will be forever loved and missed.
Gladys is survived by her three children: Richard and Marie Rogeness of Forest
City and their children Gary (Michelle), Sheila, Swen "Joe" and Steve Rogeness,
Stephanie (Doyle) Smidt and Chris (Chris) Larsen; Elaine and David Hart of
Berthoud, Colorado and their children Dennis, Donald and Daniel Hart; and Mary
and Bruce Halverson of Britt and their children Brent and Jody (Peggy)
Halverson. Also surviving are 17 great-grandchildren; a nephew, Alfred (Phyllis)
Balk and their two daughters; and a niece, Virginia Pickering.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Roy Rogeness; an infant son, James
Leroy; her parents Dirk and Lillie Balk; and her brothers, Alfred and Leslie
Balk.
The family is most grateful to the staff of Hancock County Memorial Hospital in
Britt. Their caring, loving kindness was most appreciated. Also special thanks
to Pastor McKee for his support and caring and his wonderful visits.