Glennys Mcdonald

Glennys McDonald age 86, of Bartlett, Texas, formerly of Mountain Lake, MN died on September 8, 2020, at Baylor, Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, TX. Donuts, chocolate candy, TV dinners, pot pies, popcorn on the stove, cherry pie filling on ham and one-liner jokes! Mom's vices will be long-remembered by family and friends. Mom was born in the friendly, small town of Mountain Lake, MN in 1933 at the tail-end of the Great Depression. She and her three brothers and one sister were raised on the family farm north of town. Her parents farmed row crops and raised hogs from piglets to market weight. Strong faith and family values were the family hallmark. Her father, Winfield Green, read the Bible at every meal. Family legend has it that Winfield and Gladys were hoping for a son they could name Glenn. But when mom arrived, they added letters to the name and Glennys became official. A memory of pride was her high school boys basketball team winning the Minnesota State Basketball Championship. On her last day on the job at Penner Implement she crossed paths with Robert (Bob) McDonald, a returning veteran of the U.S. Army's restoration of Japan following World War II. He an incoming mechanic and she an outgoing office employee. Following a brief courtship they began their life-long marriage partnership in November 1952. The homesteading, pioneering spirit ran through their veins and they built their home from the ground up on the west edge of Mt. Lake. To save money, the young family lived in their garage with two small sons until the roof, wiring and plumbing of their new home were completed. Along with her sister, Dorothy, mom worked nights at the local Land O Lakes dairy plant and later at the poultry processing plant in St. James, MN. Evenings free from her work schedule often featured pie and coffee with neighbors. As children we could hear the adults chattering downstairs long past nine! Apparently in the '50s and 60s caffeine didn't keep people up all night… Life is a pitcher on the mound and tosses each of us curve balls. When Bob and Glennys learned they may not have any more children following the birth of their two sons they decided to adopt an infant daughter. They traveled to the Twin Cities following a rigorous adoption agency process and were introduced to three young girls, Sharon, Shelly and Susan. Children of fractured and found families, the young girls captured the hearts of Glennys' family. Done deal. Mom and dad eventually bought the farm equipment business where they met and enjoyed many years of relationships with local farm families and business people. Among the highlights of their years together were the convention trips and cruises their business earned by exceeding sales and service goals. Surprise! Along came a baby girl born into the growing family and six children now demanded the time and resources of mom and dad. As any parent knows, each child presents its own challenges and joys. When you multiply that by six you are in for a memorable ride! The farm crisis of the 1980s claimed the family business and Glennys joined her husband in a move to Texas. Talking to her on the phone you could feel the love and energy mom got from her customers at her new job at the donut shop in a local mall. The regulars became her new family and she loved every minute with them. Relaxing walks, suppers at Whataburger Burger and authentic Mexican diners became the new normal for our parents in their Golden Years. Glennys and Bob even starred in a TV commercial for fast food dining. Sharing time with their youngest daughter and her boys delighted them as life's new purpose. Against all odds, as is so like her generation, Glennys cared for Bob as his health declined and shielded his dementia from family as long as possible. Bob passed away on his 80th birthday and Glennys pushed on with her usual bubbly laugh and story-telling. Following a long Texas to Minnesota roundtrip bus ride to attend her sister's funeral, Glennys suffered a stroke and became a resident of Will-O-Bell Nursing Home in Bartlett, TX. Despite the curse of dementia, she was the happy place for the home's staff for ten years and even shared her chocolate candy with those who took such good care of her. Despite stellar efforts by the WOB team, COVID infiltrated the care center and Glennys became infected. Her medical team at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, TX worked as hard as they could with skill and prayer to make mom's final days as comfortable as possible. On September 8, 2020, mom and dad were reunited in heaven. We miss her calls and her laugh and her jokes, as lame as they were. Having loved her all our lives are her children Paul (Shelly) McDonald of Aberdeen, SD; Jim McDonald of Mt. Lake, MN; Shelly (John) Ingram of Mankato, MN; Sue (Don) Carden of Corpus Christi, TX; Karen McDonald of Belton, TX; and brother Bobby (Muriel) of Annabelle, CA. Ten grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson wish they had more time to learn from her. Welcoming mom to heaven are her husband Bob; mother Gladys and father Winfield; brothers Wayne and Loren Green; sister Dorothy (Alvin) Schmidt; special daughter Sharon and infant grandson Brian. A private family service at Glennys' and Bob's gravesite will precede an open sharing and memorial time at the Mt. Lake Golf Course clubhouse Friday, June 18 at 1:30. The family invites memorials to be shared with the American Dementia Society (www.dementiasociety.org). Interment Information Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Sharing and Memorial Time A private family service for Glennys Ann (Green) McDonald will be held graveside preceding an open sharing and memorial time at the Mt. Lake Golf Course clubhouse Friday, June 18 at 1:30.