Gladys Rahn

Gladys J. Derksen was born on March 3, 1929 to Jacob and Sedonia Toney Otillia Rupp Derksen of Mt. Lake, Minnesota. Gladys was the youngest child in a family of five boys and three girls. When Gladys was twelve years old, her mother passed away. Her father remarried Tena P. Rempel, and Gladys gained a wonderful new mother. On December 28, 1948, Gladys married George A. Rahn at the old country EMB Church north of Mt. Lake. To this union four children were born: twins Violette and Vernelle, Rogene, and David. George and Gladys raised their family on a farm four miles north of Butterfield, MN. Gladys provided a loving Christian home for her husband and children - always gentle and sweet - cooking, canning, sewing and praying for her family. Gladys attended the Mt. Lake Public School, graduating in 1947 as Salutatorian of her class. She attended Commercial College in Mankato, MN, for six months. She worked as a secretary at Epps Department Store in Mt. Lake until she got married. Gladys was a collector of many things including postage stamps, salt and pepper shakers, pictures of mailboxes, and old silverware. She always noticed details in her surroundings and was fascinated by the variety and details of her collections. Gladys accepted Christ as her Savior at age twelve. She loved the Lord and served Him faithfully at the Gospel Mennonite Church in Mt. Lake (Lakeview Gospel) in various capacities, including Missions Treasurer for many years. She was gifted musically (a self-taught pianist), and she used her talent to start the Childrens Choir, direct the Ladies Chorus, and sing in a trio along with Lillian Klaassen and Tina Derksen. Gladys had a tender, compassionate heart for mission work and supported many missions and charities financially. George and Gladys fully stood behind their daughter Violette and her husband in their missionary work in Japan. George and Gladys believed in Christian education. For years they operated the Rahn Bus Service, transporting children, including their own, to the Mt. Lake Christian Day School. Gladys wrote a musical entitled Search the Scriptures to help raise money to support the Christian Day School. The singers, who performed thirteen times, were mothers whose children attended the school. George and Gladys were blessed to live a long life together in their own home until George passed in December 2017, having almost reached their 69th wedding anniversary. The remaining year and one half of Gladys life was spent in the Good Samaritan Home in Mt. Lake, MN., were she passed at the age of 90. Left to remember a life well-lived, are daughter Violette (Paul) Bridgman of Okayama, Japan, and grandsons Jeffrey (Hannah) Bridgman and Kevin (Melinda) Bridgman; daughter Vernelle (Glen) Jones of Greenfield, Iowa, and grandchildren Brian Jones, Brenda (Cameron) Hamer, and Susan (Marlan) Currier; daughter Rogene (Curtis) Gunther of Waterloo, Iowa, and grandchildren Michael Gunther, Jonathan Gunther, Joanna, (Emanuel) Martinez; son David Rahn of Butterfield, Minnesota, 13 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Shirley Rahn. Gladys was preceded in death by her by husband George Rahn; parents Jacob & Toney Derksen; stepmother Tena Derksen; parents-in-law Abraham & Helena (Penner) Rahn; brothers and sister-in-laws: Albert & Kathryn Derksen, Sam & Esther Derksen, Henry & Rosella Derksen, Eddie & Delphe Derksen, Lando & Ann Derksen; sisters and brother-in-law: Della Derksen, Hilda & Masel Anson; brother-in-laws & sister-in-law Henry & Verna Rahn and Albert Rahn. The family of Gladys Rahn wishes to thank you for your kindness and sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Lakeview Gospel Church-Mt Lake 1002 North 10th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Lakeview Gospel Church-Mt Lake 1002 North 10th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Fellowship Please join the family in the church fellowship hall following burial.