Gro Gifford

Gro Gifford, age 73, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at St. Luke's South, Overland Park, Kansas. She was born April 11, 1942, in Stavanger, Norway, the daughter of Kjell Schmidt and Ruth (Johannessen) Jansen. After graduating high school, she worked as a nursing aide in a Swiss hospital for people with physical disabilities. Gro also worked for NATO in the Norwegian Army. In this job, she held a top secret security ranking deciphering codes. She worked at Phillips Petroleum Company at the beginning of the oil boom in Norway, and later for Saga Petroleum Company, both as an executive secretary. Gro married William E. "Bill" Gifford on October 29, 1976, at Stavanger, Norway. This union was blessed with one daughter, Isabelle Kathrine. She was an avid knitter, liked to sew and was a member of the Quilt Guild; Gro loved listening to music, especially while she was in the car. She was a member of a sewing club and a ladies wine club in Norway. Even though she lived far away from her daughter's family, she was a doting grandmother ("Mormor"), and had been looking forward to when she and Bill would move back to Stavanger this fall to be closer to them. Her love, laughter, positivity, and her ability to make friends anywhere will be fondly remembered by many. She loved and was loved by many and will be dearly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Kjell and Ruth Jansen; and four brothers-in-law. Gro is survived by her husband, Bill Gifford of the home; daughter, Isabelle Smith and husband Noel of Stavanger, Norway; two grandchildren, Kaja Madeleine and Felix Alexander; three sisters, Astrid Louise Holgersen and husband Hallvard; Bjørg Olsen; Ruth Borkenhagen and husband Alf; sisters-in-law, Margaret Briggs; Edna Fluke and husband Syd; and Wilma Gibbs; and brother-in-law, Gerald Gifford and wife Dee; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett. Family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until the service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com