Gladys Blom

GLADYS TUINSTRA BLOM was born on November 29, 1929 to Ed and Cornelia Tuinstra in Battle Plain Township of Rock County, Minnesota, south of Edgerton, MN. She died on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone, Minnesota.

Gladys was raised on the farm where she was born. She attended country school graduating from eighth grade. She moved to a farm west of Pipestone when she was 15 and helped with the family farming operation until she married Walter Blom Jr. on November 10th, 1953. They farmed north of Pipestone until retiring from farming in 1980 when they moved to Pipestone. Gladys then lived in various locations in Pipestone where she made many new friends. Gladys earned her GED in 1985 and graduated from the Accounting program at Minnesota West in 1986. Gladys became a resident of Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in November 2009.

Gladys was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as deacon. She enjoyed the Pipestone Senior Dining program and served as treasurer of the Senior Dining Site Council for a number of years. She had a heart of gold and cherished the many friendships she made throughout the years. She is fondly known as “Pete” or “Grandma Pete” by many. She enjoyed cooking, fishing, and playing cards.

Gladys is survived by two sons and a daughter: David (Sharon) Blom, Pipestone, Minnesota; Marlene Trageser, Pipestone, Minnesota; Arlan Blom, Edgerton, Minnesota; two sisters and one brother: Sophia Forman, Pipestone, Minnesota; Delia (Sally) Blom, Pipestone, Minnesota; Marvin (Jonny) Tuinstra, Verndale, Minnesota: two grandchildren; Ashley Trageser, Apple Valley, Minnesota and John Blom, Pipestone, Minnesota and a number of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Joyce; one brother, Dick Tuinstra and a son-in-law, Don Trageser.