Gladys Ann Becker

Gladys Becker passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Society in St. James. She was born May 23, 1925 to John J. and Hilma (Pierson) Larson on her parents farm in South Branch Township, Watonwan County where she attended first grade at District 14 Country School. At the age of 6, Gladys moved with her family to the farm west of St. James. She attended St. James Public Schools graduating in 1943, and attended Minneapolis Business College 1943-1944 later working in the office at Scherr-Tumico for two years. On April 26,1946, Gladys married Marvin Becker at Augustana Lutheran Church where she had been a baptized and confirmed member. Following marriage, Gladys became a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in South Branch Township, where the couple lived all of their married life. Gladys was a member of St. Johns Ladies Aid, the adult choir, was a charter member of the Primrose Garden Club, member of the Busy Homemakers Extension Club, was an AAL branch officer, and served on the Homestead Cooperative Board. She is known and remembered for her wonderful baking, cooking, canning, gardening, beautiful yardwork, and the many crafts including quilting, knitting and creating hand-made Christmas ornaments gifted to many friends and family. In 2001, Gladys left the farm to live at St. James Homestead Cooperative, living there until December of 2016 when she became a resident of Brandt Ridge Assisted Living and in June of 2017 a resident of Pleasant View Care Center. Gladys is survived by children-Bruce (Paula) Becker of Apple Valley, Kathy (Mic) Grunig of Truman, Karen (Jeff) Silker of Draper, Utah; 7 grandchildren-Brent Grunig, Daniel (Brittany) Grunig, Joshua (Mary) Becker, Jenika (Brian) Solheid, Brandon (Maegan) Romsdahl, Erik Romsdahl and fiancee Brittany Wenner, Marissa (Chris) Menssen; 8 great grandchildren - Kellen, Keegan, and Korbin Grunig, Brody and Aubrey Solheid, Laila, Ryker and Dax Romsdahl; sister-LaVonne (Philip) Anderson of St. James; and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin in 1996, infant son, parents, sister/brother-in-law Lorraine and Vincent Olson, brother/sister-in-law John and Eleanor Larson, brother Richard Larson. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday, July 6, 2017 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Visitation 2 9:30 am - 10:30 am Friday, July 7, 2017 St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch 41486 760th Ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 10:30 am Friday, July 7, 2017 St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch 41486 760th Ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, South Branch South Branch Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Fellowship Fellowship and lunch will follow services.