BHS Alumni Trail introduces you to Gladys Lueken.
Gladys Traaseth Luecken was born to Goodwin and Bernice Traaseth in July 1948 joining her older brother, Orlyn and sister, Agnetta. They were large dairy farmers having a herd of thirty dairy cows in Shevlin township. That doesn’t sound like a lot compared to area counties today having herds of 7,500 to 10,000 cows. Sadly, there is not one dairy herd left in Clearwater County.
Gladys’ parents wanted to buy Lundmark’s Café in Bagley around 1964 because Bernice had worked there since 1954 and Goodwin wasn’t in good health. Gladys, a little stubborn, refused to move without a cow and continued to help with the milking before and after school. Of course, that meant picking rocks and other field work in the summer along with the milking. Gladys still thinks every kid or grandkid should have the experience of being on a farm. She truly was her papa’s right hand “man.”
Gladys feels fortunate that she was able to attend Shevlin Elementary school for six years. There was no kindergarten in Clearwater County yet. Her father had attended Shevlin school starting in 1916 through the eighth grade. Her mother attended a rural school in Buzzle Township in Beltrami County also through eighth grade. Gladys’ oldest son was in the first Bagley kindergarten class starting in 1973. There were 20 students in Gladys’ class in Shevlin that would then attend Bagley High School starting in seventh grade along with “city” kids and students from other rural schools. A real shock for this little farm girl to be thrown in this mix.
When Gladys was young about ten and visiting with her father, he made a statement that something had happened thirty years ago. Gladys always one to question things said “sure dad you can remember that long ago.” Guess what, Gladys and her class of 100 graduates of the class of 1966 are busy planning their 60thclass reunion this summer. She is honored to have been a co-salutatorian of her class. She now remembers 75 years ago. How often has she said about a variety of topics. “I am so sorry dad I didn’t know.”
Gladys was the first in her family to attend college at Bemidji State College graduating with the class of 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree and receiving a Business Education teaching certificate.
Remember her folks wanting to buy Lundmark’s Café when she was in high school? With her gone to college and her dad no longer having her help, they did purchase the café where she would help waitress and assist with the bookkeeping duties. Probably even did the dishwashing and other cleaning. Many readers will remember Lundmark’s Café as the hang out for kids after school and other school events. This was before cell phones and there was a line up of kids waiting to call home for a ride or tell their parents of further plans for the evening.
Her first year after college graduation she continued working in the data processing center at BSC that she had done during work study. This may be a familiar name to older readers of the paper her supervisor was Alden Lorents class of 1955 of Bagley High School. He is still the first person she thinks of seeing at the five-year Bagley all school reunion.
In May of 1971 she was hired by another familiar name, Crystal Schmitz, to be in the business office of the Clearwater County Memorial Hospital. She had many titles throughout her career with the last being Chief Financial Officer when she retired in July 2004.
The following year her father passed away at the age of 95 and she began employment for Allen Potvin in finance with all the Cornerstone Health Facilities he owned or built in Fosston, Kelliher and Bagley. She finally retired from employment in 2013 and expanded her volunteer and travel opportunities.
She has been recognized as Clearwater County First Lady, Clearwater County Lady Senior Citizen for her many areas of volunteering.
Growing up she was a member of the Jack Pine Pals 4-H club and her children belonged to Country Cousins 4-H club. The fair continues to be an important part of her life. When she was turning 75, she decided it would be fun to have 75 entries which she did with entries in the quilt building, creative arts, and foods. Speaking of quilts, she has made many Project Linus blankets for kids in crisis from 0 – 18 years old. Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has been a recipient of many mission quilts through her church Faith Lutheran Church in Bagley. Speaking of the church she has served on the church council on various boards, she is also an active member of the WELCA ladies’ group (Women of the Evangelical Church in America). She leads many mission events and participates in worship service in any needed area.
Gladys and her husband Albert Luecken have been involved in the Community Christmas Day Dinner almost from the beginning in 2000. For the last seven years they have been the coordinators for this very popular event. In 2025, with meals delivered, picked up or enjoyed in the fellowship hall of FLC there were just over 300 meals served. Thank you to all the willing volunteers numbering over 50, from 7 churches and ranging in age from 3 to 83 years.
Gladys jokes that growing up on the demanding dairy farm they got to Bemidji twice a year. Once for the Fourth of July fireworks, and in December to see all the lights on Birchmontdrive and go to her aunt’s birthday on December 27th.
Her travel experience has expanded as she has gotten older. With her children they traveled to see the State Capitol, MN Twins games, Valley Fair, the Black Hills including Mount Rushmore, Estes Park and the Denver area. She has been fortunate to travel to Europe twice with two of her granddaughters and husband. Gladys and Albert have found that they enjoy the many bus tours available for senior citizens having gone three times for their anniversary to Mackinac Island and the most recent to Niagara Falls from the Canadian and USA sides. They have made several trips to Branson, Washington DC, New York City, Nashville, Medora and even the Clearwater Polk Electric Trip to the coal mines seeing where are power is generated. One of their favorite camper places to go for about 30 years was to the Norsk Hostfest in Minot ND enjoying everything Scandinavian. They recently received notice that this is being discontinued. That will open a week for them to explore other sites.
Gladys is an avid quilter and belongs to the Headwaters Quilt Guild in Bemidji. Her most recent passion has been to coordinate with other Clearwater quilters to award active and veteran military persons in Clearwater County with a Quilt of Valor to thank and honor them for their service. God Bless the USA.
This is not all of Gladys’s volunteer work. She is truly inspiring and is the definition of “in service” to others.