Gladys Van Stralen

Gladys Van Stralen, age 96, died on September 15, 2015, at Golden Living in Milbank, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

Visitation will be held on Sunday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church beginning at 5:00 PM and a prayer vigil at 7:00 PM. Fr. Gary DeRouchey will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.

Gladys Van Stralen was born December 22, 1918, to Peter and Charlotte (Hinkels) Van Hout in rural Big Stone City, SD. She attended school and graduated from Big Stone City High School. She worked at a restaurant as a waitress until she married Bernard Van Stralen on June 5, 1940. The couple farmed near Corona and Twin Brooks, SD until they bought the family farm north of Milbank, SD. She helped on the farm and raised their family. In her later years, she cleaned houses and enjoyed baking for others. They continued farming there until their 50th wedding anniversary when they moved into Milbank, SD.

Gladys was an active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the Altar Society. She was known for her baking skills, especially her homemade pies, rolls and buns! She served her baked goods to friends and neighbors alike. She also served her treats to the hospital and nursing home twice a month and also volunteered at the Community Thrift Store twice a month. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and served as President for two years. At the age of 85, she went for a daily swim at Unity Square then assisted Father Ken Lulf getting the altar ready for daily mass at 7 a.m.

Left to Cherish Gladys’s memory are her children: Marianne (Dale) Lantis, Marge (Bob) Hopkins, Pat (Ed Hart) Van Stralen, Char Calvin, Frank (Cathy) Van Stralen, Mike Van Stralen and Steve Van Stralen; eighteen grandchildren, Lana (Daryl) Foss, Tony (Kim) Folk, Gina (Tom) Porozinski, Anita (Eric) Anderson, Wayne (Bonae) Folk, Dennis Hopkins, Julie Hopkins, Bill (Karen) Hopkins, Tammy (Brian) Taylor, Bill (Debbi) Forsyth, Matt (Sara)Charwood, Olivia Charwood, Elizabeth Van Stralen, Jesse (Lenore) Smith, Christine Smith, Heidi Van Stralen, Hailey Van Stralen; twenty four great grandchildren, Amanda Foss, Jeffery Foss, Zac Folk, Isiah Folk, Tanner Folk, Spencer Folk, Riley Folk, Rhianna Folk, Derek Porozinski, Nick Porozinski, Tyler Anderson, Joshua Anderson, Leah Anderson, Brandon Folk, Courtney Folk, Alexis Folk, Morgan Folk, Joe Hopkins, Sara Hopkins, Grace Forsyth, Garrett Forsyth, Orian Charwood, Danica Charwood, Cody Smith; two great-great grandchildren, Sydney and Kalen and three sisters, Georgette Giessinger, Dorothy (Hank) Prasnicki and Diane (Vince) Kvidera.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard Van Stralen; children, Rita Van Stralen, Rose Van Stralen, Dan Van Stralen; and her siblings: Marie Geissinger, Vi Hanson and Glenn Van Hout.