Gladys Ione (Keslar) Henning

Gladys Ione Henning, aged 101 years, passed away November 1, 2018 at the Thermopolis Rehab and Wellness Center.  She was born in a sod house nestled in the Sand Hills near Stapleton/Gandy, Nebraska, on July 2, 1917 to Earnest E. and Ada (Langman Lowe) Keslar.  Family history included that attending to mother Ada was her oldest daughter, Roxie, and that Gladys was delivered on the kitchen table at home!  She was the youngest of seven children, joining three sisters and three brothers.

In 1936 Gladys married Frank D. Henning in Broken bow, Nebraska, and to this union were born daughter Phyllis and son Frank.  They were later divorced and Gladys began life as a hard working single woman.  She moved from Nebraska and eventually settle in Denver, Colorado, where she worked as an agriculturist in a greenhouse tending the flowers.  She made some long-lasting friendships with other women who all traveled to follow their adult daughters’ fast-pitch softball games and tournaments.  She also followed the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies.  Attending the annual Keslar Family Cousins Reunion, held at different locations and relative’s homes, was always much anticipated.

Upon her daughter’s retirement they both made the decision to move in 1999 to Thermopolis to be nearer to Franks and the extended family.  After having always lived independently in the Denver area for over forty years, Gladys had to move in with Phyllis to recuperate after breaking her hip the very first night at Phyllis’ new home!  She recovered quite well and moved to her own apartment.  Gladys had to give up her independence and quit driving herself about Thermopolis and the local area.  She went on many camping excursions with her daughter-in-law, Teri, sitting around the camp fire watching the stars and sipping a little diet Pepsi and rum.  She stayed active with making many beautiful handmade crafts, sewing and altering clothes, jigsaw puzzles  and baking for the holidays in her cozy apartment at the Senior Village in East Thermopolis, where she has been since the early 2000’s.  She only recently had some major health issues – after over 100 years of a very active and independent life!! –that made the move to TRCC necessary in late September of this year.

Gladys was preceded in death by both her parents and all her siblings: sisters – Roxie Millen, Viola Spidell, and Verline Acker; and brothers – Arthur Harold and Orville Keslar.  She is survived by her children Phyllis and Frank (Teri) Henning, both of Thermopolis, and five grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and other extended family members.  Also mourning Glady’s passing are Phyllis and Frank’s siblings from their father’s second marriage: sisters – Carol (Earnest) Slagle of Kirby, LauraLee (Gary) Nash of Worland/ and brothers – Ed (Mary) Henning of Worland; Jim (JoEllen) Henning of Gillette and Hobart Henning of Lingle (deceased).

Per Glady’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family memorial will be held at a later date.

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