Gladys Van Wettering, 84, Luverne, died Monday, June 6, 2016, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, June 10, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne with burial at Eastside Cemetery in Steen. A visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.
Gladys Hoff was born Sept. 24, 1931, to John and Jennie (Teune) Hoff in rural Steen. She was baptized and later confirmed at the Steen Reformed Church. She first attended country school, then school in Steen and finished her education through the eighth grade at the Hills Public School. She began working soon afterward at Fikse Produce in Hills, candling eggs.
On Aug. 28, 1951, Gladys married Otto Van Wettering in her parents’ home. They first lived in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where Gladys worked at the JC Penney store. Almost a year later they moved to Steen. In September of 1952, Otto was inducted into the United States Army and was first stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Gladys moved to nearby Manhattan, Kansas. Otto was later transferred to Fort Carson in Colorado and Gladys joined him there, living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The couple moved to a farm near Steen in 1954 after Otto’s honorable discharge. In 1970 they moved to a farm south of Luverne. Two years later the couple no longer farmed but continued to live on the farm while Otto pursued a career in trucking and Gladys worked at K Products in Rock Rapids. When Otto retired in 1993, the couple moved to Luverne. Gladys began doing home health care visits. In 1996 Otto became a resident of the Minnesota Veterans Home, and Gladys and their dog Buttons began to visit twice daily to entertain Otto and the other residents. Otto died in March 2007.
Gladys was most recently a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne and had previously been a member of the Steen Reformed Church. Gladys and Otto enjoyed the chapel services at the Minnesota Veterans Home. After Otto’s death Gladys volunteered at the Minnesota Veterans Home, often in the chapel. She also enjoyed reading and spending time with family and friends.
Gladys is survived by seven children, Cynthia (Howard) Schneekloth of Watertown, South Dakota, Janice (David) Sasse of Randolph, Stanley (Karen) Van Wettering of Luverne, Audrey (Dwight) Hemme of Chaska, Gloria (Kelly) Gangestad of Gillette, Wyoming, Andrew Van Wettering (friend, Christie Vitse) of Rochester, and Ardell (Jennifer) Van Wettering of Luverne; 13 grandchildren, Rachel, Michelle, Michael, Julie, Derek, Morgan, Connor, Eric, Amber, Leah. Kyle, Brooke, and Ashley; seven great-great children; a sister, Bernice Aukes of Hills; two brothers, Peter Hoff of Hills, and Jerry (Mary) Hoff of Luverne; and one sister-in-law, Reva Hoff of Luverne.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a brother, Cornelius Hoff; and a grandson-in-law, Robert Gusso.
Arrangements are by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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Gladys Van Wetterling
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