Gladys Barickman died in her sleep Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea with a short service to follow at 6 p.m. Interment will be at a later date at Fort Ridgely Cemetery in Fairfax. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Gladys May (Johnson) Barickman was born Feb. 14, 1928, in St. James to Henry and Nora Johnson.

Gladys married Earl Dean Barickman on July 12, 1944, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church outside Odin. The two moved to Earl’s family farm near Lewisville and bore three sons: Ivan, Leon and Kurt.

Gladys and Earl had a passion for dancing, even starting a square-dancing club in Lewisville.

Gladys and Earl became Gold Star parents on July 27, 1969, when their son, Leon, was killed in action in Vietnam.

In 1976, Gladys and Earl moved to their house on Hall Lake in Fairmont, where they resided until 1998, when they moved to Albert Lea.

Gladys was a tremendous cook and baker, always taking the extra time to whip up something special and was a cook at Truman Sale Barn, Fairmont Community Hospital and REM in Albert Lea. Gladys was a member of Truman Church of Christ for most of her life and enjoyed teaching Sunday school there. She was deeply spiritual and often talked of the mysterious and wonderful ways her higher power made himself known, holding tight to her beliefs, even during times of loss. She made many an impact during her 90 years and will be remembered for her compassion and strength.

Gladys is survived by her sister, Rosalita Mays, of Rochester; son, Kurt (Jill) Barickman, of Albert Lea; granddaughters Sarah Barickman, Abby Barickman of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Avonelle (Loren) Lovhaug of Shoreview and Roila (John) Hogan of Bloomington; grandson, Leon Barickman, of Florida; great-grandchildren Raven Barickman, Riley, Svetlana and Ivan Hogan, and Graham (Lara) and Lewis (Viga) Lovhaug; brother-in-law, Keith (Cheryl) Barickman, of Truman; sister-in-law, Lawana (Richard) Westhoff, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Kurt’s son, Jake Payne, of Leroy.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl; sons Ivan and Leon; parents Henry and Nora; siblings Ilene, Norma, Betty, Hank, Donald, James and Andrew; and many cousins, extended family and friends.