Gladys Emilie Carroll

Gladys Emilie Carroll, 104, died on August 24, 2025, Stuart, Florida and former resident of Racine & Stewartville, MN. Her funeral will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pleasant Valley Township, Racine, MN with the Rev. M.L.F. Freiberg, Sr. officiating. There will be a Private Family Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville, MN.

Gladys died peacefully in her sleep following a four-year battle with dementia. She was a resident at The Cabana at Jensen Dunes, Memory Unit, Jensen Beach, Florida for the past four years.

Gladys Emilie Ellinghuysen was born December 10, 1920 on the family farm in Pleasant Valley Township, Mower County, to Otto and Viola (Kath) Ellinghuysen. She was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley, being both baptized and confirmed there. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1939. She lived in San Francisco, CA for two years working for the WWII war effort at the San Francisco Presidio. She married Thomas P. Carroll on May 13, 1943 at Bowan Field, Louisville, Kentucky. Thomas Carroll was in the US Air Force and for 30 years the couple lived on 25 Air Force Bases in the US and Okinawa. Gladys was a homemaker and primary care giver while her husband served his county. She was a loving, devoted mother to their four daughters and was very active in many community organization: PTA, Gray Lady (American Red Cross) volunteer at Military Base Hospitals, Girl Scout Leader for ten years, and Officers' Wives Club member for 24 years, to name a few. Thomas retired from the Air Force in February 1972. Lt. Col (Retired) Carroll died of cancer on March 15, 1997.

The couple returned to Minnesota to make their home on the Ellinghuysen Farm in rural Racine, MN. Gladys was a very active member of the community. She was on the Stewartville School Board for 14 years. While on the School Board she was on many committees: Budget Task Force, Middle School Task Force, District Steering Committee, Student Council Board Representative, SMECSU Board Member, Swimming Pool Committee, and the MSBA Delegate Assembly. She was named as a recipient of the 2008 National Honor Society "Wall of Fame" for her dedicated service as a Stewartville School Board member and her contributions to the Stewartville community. Gladys was also a 30 year member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church's Ladies Aid, and served on the first Stewartville City-Wide Beautification Committee for a several years. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary #8980, Stewartville Lioness for 36 years, American Legion Auxiliary #164 for 50 years, Friends of the Library, Stewartville Long Range Planning Committee & Southeastern MN Educational Coop for 11 years. She enjoyed traveling, flower gardening and hosting and visiting with friends and relatives. She loved living in sunny Stuart, Florida for the past 14 years and spending time with her daughters and their families and friends and relatives that visited. Gladys was completely devoted to her faith, family and her community.

Gladys is survived by her three daughters; Susan (Dr. Bradley Hiner) Carroll of Camarillo, CA, Sandra Carroll and Linda (Daniel Shern) Carroll Shern of Stuart, FL. Five grandchildren: Todd VerNess, Byron, MN; Ryan VerNess, Ankeny, IA; Hillary Carroll Hiner, Santigo, Chile; Cecily (Dr. Akin) Oni-Orisan, Camarillo, CA and Kailey (Dustin) Buse, Bloomington, MN. Seven great-grandchildren: Niya, Alina, Kyla, & Brie Ori-Orisan; Elenita Carroll Colecchio; Molly Kappelhoff, Cadence and Odinn Buse; one brother, Donald (Bud) Ellinghuysen of Stewartville and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Thomas; daughter, Patricia Caudill on April 2, 2016; grandson, Bennett Carroll Hiner on November 9, 2011; her parents; brother Glen Ellinghuysen; and two sisters Maxine Voeltz and Jane Herrick.

Memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 73297 310th Street, Racine, MN. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, MN. Griffin-gray.com

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