Gladys Holstrom

Gladys Katherine Holstrom (nee Kugler), 89, passed away Tuesday September 25, 2018 at Lake Region Hospital, surrounded by family.

Gladys was born November 21, 1928 in a farmhouse in Friberg Township, to Alice (Timms) and Otto Kugler.  She attended school at a one-room schoolhouse, before moving to Fergus Falls to complete high school, graduating in 1948.  Gladys was a lifelong waitress, beginning at Skogmo’s Cafe while in high school, ending at Big Chief where she worked for close to 30 years.

Gladys married the love of her life, George “Happy” Holstrom on October 10, 1953, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.  They received a letter from the President recognizing their 60th wedding anniversary in 2013.  Early in their marriage they lived in Mandan ND, Dilworth MN, Fargo ND, and Moorhead MN, before returning to Fergus Falls in 1967.  Their home in Fergus was always open to family, friends, and neighbors for freshly baked cookies or her famous chex-mix

Gladys was a caregiver.  Upon retiring from Big Chief, she cared for Happy at their home on the Jewett Lake Road for 13 years.  She cared for her son Paul until March of this year.

Gladys loved to talk about her childhood in Friberg; fishing for sunnies with a cane pole, playing with her pet goat, and hauling water with a horse-drawn stone boat to water the garden.  She developed a lifelong work ethic in her pioneer-like upbringing.

She is survived by her children: Michael (Cindy) of Battle Lake, Tom of Duluth, Paul of Fergus Falls, and Ann (Glen Bunn) of Rochester NY; grandchildren Ty (Amanda) Holstrom, Stacy (Joe) Thormodson, Emily (Calli) Oberembt, Andrew Holstrom, Ingrid Holstrom, Samantha Bunn, Chandler Bunn; and great-grandchildren Stella and Claire Holstrom, and Anna, Jason, and Emma Thormodson.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and siblings, Herbert and Leo Kugler and Margaret Wiese.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of Mill Street Residence, The Pioneer Home, and Dr. John Tate and the staff at the cancer center for the care provided to Gladys.

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