Gladys Fladhammer
Gladys Fladhammer, age 95, formerly of McIntosh and Winger, MN, passed away on Saturday, July 11th, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18th, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger with Theresa Sandness, SAM, officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.
Gladys Lorraine (Nelson) Fladhammer was born on February 18, 1931, to Elmore and Nora Nelson near McIntosh, Minnesota. She grew up with six brothers and sisters, all working hard on the farm to get through the times of the Depression and World War II. She became an excellent cook and baker as a teenager and was responsible for much of the meal preparation for the family, along with milking cows and taking care of the horses and chickens.
In 1948, she met Alvin Fladhammer, at a dance, and they were married April 11, 1949. Gladys and Alvin were great dancers and something they enjoyed throughout their married life. To this union two boys were born, Duane in 1955 and Daryl in 1960.
During the early years of marriage, they farmed and in the late 60’s opened a mechanic shop. Gladys was very busy cooking, baking, washing clothes and helping Alvin in the shop when she could. In the late 70’s, Gladys worked at the cheese factory in Winger. She also taught Sunday School for several years at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger.
Through the 80’s and into the 90’s, Gladys worked for the Polk County Chore Service where she made many friends and was always willing to help the clients out with whatever was needed. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye and she would do anything for them. Playing, baking their favorite sweets, buying toys, etc.
Gladys also enjoyed spending time with her sister, Dorothy, baking, visiting and shopping. She also enjoyed visiting all her family and in-laws and having them as company so she could make them lunch and coffee and some kind of baked goods.
Gladys’s health started to fail somewhat after Alvin’s passing at the end of 2008. In 2014, she moved into Pioneer Care Center where she made many friends and got along well with staff. In 2016, she moved to Fair Meadow in Fertile with the beginnings of Alzheimer's and made friends with others and staff. Gladys would always have a conversation with you whether she knew you or not.
Gladys is survived by her sons, Duane and Daryl (Stephanie); brother, Adolf Nelson; sister-in-law, Helen Lee; grandchildren, Shane Fladhammer, Elizabeth Fladhammer and Ally Fladhammer; great grandchildren, Saddie, Brooke, and Miley Fladhammer; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmore and Nora Nelson; husband, Alvin; father and mother-in-law, Christ and Annie Fladhammer; siblings, Bertha, Annie, Ernest, Norman, and Dorothy; sisters-in-law, Ruth Nelson, Alice Nelson and Carolyn Nelson; and brothers-in-law, Elmore Jacobson, Elmer Shaver, and Gordon Johnson.
In-laws on the Fladhammer side include Art and Dolores Fladhammer, Harold and Corran Fladhammer, Arnold and Myra Gulsvig, Lawrence and Edna Skiple, and Kenneth and Alice Fladhammer.
We would like to extend our greatest thanks to the Fair Meadow Nursing Home staff as we could not have asked for better care. Thank you also to Carlin Funeral Home for their great care and the Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger.