Gladys Marie Vliem

Gladys Marie Vliem, age 89, of Lodgepole, South Dakota passed away on Sept 24, 2024 at the West River Care Center in Hettinger, North Dakota. Gladys was born on October 3, 1934 to Gilbert and Marie VanWyk.

Gladys graduated from Hettinger High School and attended one year of college at Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, SD. She married Jim Vliem on November 6, 1953. To this union 6 children were born. Pat, Audrey, Emmett, Gayla, Joy and Mike.

For many years Gladys fondly worked for the Hettinger Hospital, where she formed many lasting friendships. She also was employed at the CNN Cafe, arriving early to make salads, pies and a favorite of many, knoephla soup.

Jim passed away in 1991, when Gladys was only 57 years old. She filled her time and shared her love by helping people in the community in need of a fresh meal, house cleaning, a visit and coffee or however she could help. Gladys loved making quilts and became a master at it. She gave many quilts away, and all her grandchildren received one upon high school graduation.

On November 29, 2011 Gladys suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke which forever changed her life. She has spent the last 13 years being lovingly cared for at West River Assisted Living and West River Care Center. Despite her struggles, she remained happy, a jokester and loved life. She relied on her faith in God and knew there was a better plan for her.

Gladys is survived by her children, Patricia Craft, Audrey (Eugene) Solseth, Emmett (Pat) Vliem, Gayla (Carl) Buechler, Joy (Jeff) Achtenberg and Michael Vliem; special nephew, Kory VanWyk;  grandchildren, Terra (Luke) Lloyd, Gerrit (Jessie) Solseth, Ryley (Carol) Buechler, Trisha (Jeff) Baum, Ryan Malm, Abby (Caleb) Pokorny, Emily (Jake) Hunsberger, Eva (Nate) Grossnicklaus; great grandchildren, Dylan Larsen, Tobias Solseth, Beckett and Decker Buechler, Owen, Hannah and Reagan Baum and Camden Malm; brother-in-law Dean Anderson; sisters-in-law, Dort and Betty Vliem and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, sisters Thelma (Bud) Sandgren and Elaine Anderson, brothers Rodney, Buster and Warren (Carolyn) VanWyk, sister-in-laws Gert (Tony) Kooiman, Hum (Arnold) LeFebre; brothers-in-law, Art (Ethel), Frank (Arlene), Harold, Albert and Alfred Vliem; son-in-law, Bill Craft; grandchildren Jessica Craft and Carlie Malm.

Funeral services will be held at the Holland Center Church in Lodgepole, SD on Saturday, October 5 at 11 am followed by a luncheon.

Friends and family of Gladys are encouraged to sign the online guestbook.