1922
Gladys
2010
Gladys Johnson)
June 14, 1922 — June 4, 2010
Gladys Mae Schwartz was born on June 14, 1922 in Hansonville Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota, to parents Charles and Cora (Dushack) Schwartz. She was the first of two daughters of a young farm family. Her mother died in October of 1925, in due course, she and her sister, Arlene, were raised by their maternal grandparents, as their father moved to Minneapolis during the Depression to seek work and help support the family.
Gladys attended various country schools in the Hendricks and Canby area and graduated from the eighth grade, being unable to attend high school because of the Depression. She and several of her cousins worked during the late 1930’s and during the War years for Marshall Foods, aka Schwann’s, commuting everyday from their farm homes in the area. As a young woman, she, her sister, cousins and friends enjoyed attending dances and other social events at the Bohemian Hall, south of Canby, MN.
She was confirmed in the Lutheran religion at Marble Lutheran Church. It was during these confirmation classes that she met her future husband, Loyal Johnson, who was learning to drive a car by driving his father to attend those same classes. They were married at the same church on June 20, 1946. To this union, four children were born: Lyndon, Marlys, David and Sandra.
She began her lifetime career of being a mother, housewife and homemaker with the birth of their first child in 1947. Loyal left a maritime career as a Merchant Marine officer in 1948 to begin employment in Fergus Falls with Otter Tail Power Company and to start a family. In 1950, the young family moved to Ortonville where Loyal worked at Otter Tail’s Ortonville plant until his retirement in 1982. Gladys managed the household for two decades, until the late 60’s when she started doing child daycare in their home.
In 1952, they moved to their present address to be “near the school” and to thus facilitate the education of their children. There were no excuses to be absent or tardy because of bad weather because the household maxim was “if you can still see the backdoor of the school, the weather is not that bad, so get going.” During this time, Gladys was a Cub Scout Den Mother, an active member of First English Lutheran Church, a member of First English Lutheran Church’s Ladies Circle, a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Otter Tail Ladies Birthday Club, and also a member of the ZCBJ Lodge #107 in Canby, MN, as she and Loyal raised their family and established themselves in the Ortonville Community.
After Loyal’s retirement in 1982, they traveled extensively throughout the United States visiting family and friends; including: Colorado, Oregon, Florida, California, New York, Washington, D.C. and Brazil. Sometimes Gladys and Loyal traveled with family, sometimes with friends, but most of the time, they set off on their own. They facilitated these travels by maintaining a second home in southern Texas for several years.
Gladys’ leisure time activities included gardening, cooking, dancing, bingo, having coffee with neighbors and friends and visiting with family and friends. The dedication to family and friends were among Gladys’ great pleasures evident by attendance at any and all community social gatherings from eating out, fundraisers, church dinners, and sporting events.
After Loyal’s death in August of 2004, Gladys moved into Fairway View in Ortonville and in January of 2006, she moved into Northridge Residence, where she received wonderful care by the staff, all to whom, her family is eternally grateful.
Gladys died on Friday, June 04, 2010, at Ortonville Area Health Services in Ortonville, MN. She had lived to reach the age of 87 years.
Gladys is preceded in death by her parents Charley and Cora (Dushack) Schwartz; husband Loyal; sister Arlene Erp; bother-in-law William Erp Jr., niece LeAnn Bednarek; great-nephew Travis Erp; and one great-great-niece Paden Jelen.
Gladys is survived by her children: Lyndon (Sylvia) of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marlys of Maple Grove, MN, Dave (Pat) of Clearwater, MN, and Sandra of Portland, OR; and 6 grandchildren: Carrie (Andy), Bryan, Katie, Andrea, Stephanie, and Tyler; one nephew; 5 nieces; and several cousins.
Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville, MN is in charge of arrangements.
Gladys attended various country schools in the Hendricks and Canby area and graduated from the eighth grade, being unable to attend high school because of the Depression. She and several of her cousins worked during the late 1930’s and during the War years for Marshall Foods, aka Schwann’s, commuting everyday from their farm homes in the area. As a young woman, she, her sister, cousins and friends enjoyed attending dances and other social events at the Bohemian Hall, south of Canby, MN.
She was confirmed in the Lutheran religion at Marble Lutheran Church. It was during these confirmation classes that she met her future husband, Loyal Johnson, who was learning to drive a car by driving his father to attend those same classes. They were married at the same church on June 20, 1946. To this union, four children were born: Lyndon, Marlys, David and Sandra.
She began her lifetime career of being a mother, housewife and homemaker with the birth of their first child in 1947. Loyal left a maritime career as a Merchant Marine officer in 1948 to begin employment in Fergus Falls with Otter Tail Power Company and to start a family. In 1950, the young family moved to Ortonville where Loyal worked at Otter Tail’s Ortonville plant until his retirement in 1982. Gladys managed the household for two decades, until the late 60’s when she started doing child daycare in their home.
In 1952, they moved to their present address to be “near the school” and to thus facilitate the education of their children. There were no excuses to be absent or tardy because of bad weather because the household maxim was “if you can still see the backdoor of the school, the weather is not that bad, so get going.” During this time, Gladys was a Cub Scout Den Mother, an active member of First English Lutheran Church, a member of First English Lutheran Church’s Ladies Circle, a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Otter Tail Ladies Birthday Club, and also a member of the ZCBJ Lodge #107 in Canby, MN, as she and Loyal raised their family and established themselves in the Ortonville Community.
After Loyal’s retirement in 1982, they traveled extensively throughout the United States visiting family and friends; including: Colorado, Oregon, Florida, California, New York, Washington, D.C. and Brazil. Sometimes Gladys and Loyal traveled with family, sometimes with friends, but most of the time, they set off on their own. They facilitated these travels by maintaining a second home in southern Texas for several years.
Gladys’ leisure time activities included gardening, cooking, dancing, bingo, having coffee with neighbors and friends and visiting with family and friends. The dedication to family and friends were among Gladys’ great pleasures evident by attendance at any and all community social gatherings from eating out, fundraisers, church dinners, and sporting events.
After Loyal’s death in August of 2004, Gladys moved into Fairway View in Ortonville and in January of 2006, she moved into Northridge Residence, where she received wonderful care by the staff, all to whom, her family is eternally grateful.
Gladys died on Friday, June 04, 2010, at Ortonville Area Health Services in Ortonville, MN. She had lived to reach the age of 87 years.
Gladys is preceded in death by her parents Charley and Cora (Dushack) Schwartz; husband Loyal; sister Arlene Erp; bother-in-law William Erp Jr., niece LeAnn Bednarek; great-nephew Travis Erp; and one great-great-niece Paden Jelen.
Gladys is survived by her children: Lyndon (Sylvia) of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marlys of Maple Grove, MN, Dave (Pat) of Clearwater, MN, and Sandra of Portland, OR; and 6 grandchildren: Carrie (Andy), Bryan, Katie, Andrea, Stephanie, and Tyler; one nephew; 5 nieces; and several cousins.
Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville, MN is in charge of arrangements.