Gladys Molander, age 96, died at her home at the Twin Rivers Senior Campus in Cannon Falls on Monday morning, July 26, 2010.
Gladys was born the youngest child of seven to Ole Tollefsrud and the former Bertha Syversen on January 10, 1914 in Ulen, MN on a farm 2 ?? miles from town. She was baptized and confirmed in Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She spent most of her youth in that area.
Gladys was united in marriage with Carl Molander, September 19, 1937 and they lived in International Falls, MN where Carl worked for the Immigration Service. Later they were transferred to Grand Forks, ND and then to Portal, ND. Upon the death of her husband she and her daughter Kay, moved back to International Falls where she lived for 33 years. She was a very active member in the Zion Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir before becoming the organist for that church for many years.
She also gave piano lessons until 1981 when she retired and moved to Cannon Falls and took up residence in Park Street Apartments. She became a member of First English Lutheran Church, was active in the Food Shelf program, in a Women's Circle and on the Music Committee.
Gladys enjoyed reading, walking, baking and shopping. Her main enjoyment was music, especially playing the pipe organ at Zion Church in International Falls.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Roland Ellingson of Cannon Falls; two grandsons, Todd (fiance, Tammy Jacobson) Hanson of Cannon Falls, and Timothy (Kirsten) Hanson of Rochester; two granddaughters, Tara (Hanson) and Thomas Nyland of Cannon Falls, and Tania (Hanson) and Greg Anderson of Cannon Falls; 3 great-granddaughters, Nicki Hanson and Brooklyn Hanson, both of Cannon Falls, and Sydney Hanson of Rochester; four great-grandsons, Christopher and Daniel Nyland, and William Anderson, all of Cannon Falls, and Conrad Hanson of Rochester; one great-great-granddaughter, Navannah Kai Johnson; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Molander; her parents; four sisters and two brothers; and one great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Rose Nyland.