Gladys Vera Henricks

Funeral services for Gladys Henricks of Morris will be held Friday, October 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Morris, with Reverend Donald Main officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a time of sharing at 7 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Gladys Vera Henricks, age 103, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at Julia’s Place with her loving husband, Jim, and grandson, Dan, by her side. She was born in Swan Lake Township in Stevens County on November 10, 1921, to parents Frank and Vera (Burbank) Zahl.

On May 19, 1935, she was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Morris, where Gladys grew up and attended District 40 through 8th grade in Stevens County before transitioning to Morris High School, which she graduated from in 1940. After graduating, she worked in St. Paul from 1943 until 1952, when Gladys began working at the University of Minnesota West Central School of Agriculture until retiring in 1993, after 41 years of dedicated service. On September 18, 1965, Gladys married the love of her life, James Henricks, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. She had one son, John Zahl, who unfortunately passed away unexpectedly with his beloved wife, Joanne Thomas, in April of 2020.

Gladys was a beloved member of the community, and cherished by her family. She was a huge blood donor and advocate for donation, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Stevens County Medical Center Auxiliary, the Fair Board, was on the St. Paul’s Lutheran Women’s Guild and sang in the choir. She loved to volunteer at the Food Co-op, the hospital gift shop and dedicated the majority of her life to serving others; Gladys was an avid crossword puzzle player, and loved to read.

She will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched. May God Bless the Memory of Gladys Vera Henricks.

Left to celebrate Glady’s life is her husband, James Henricks, of Morris, MN; grandchildren: Jennifer (Mike Bruland) Zahl Bruland, Sarah Zahl, Andrew (Breha Holcomb) Zahl, and Daniel (Lisa) Zahl; sister, Sally Valentin, of Richmond, MN; 13 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Vera Zahl; son and daughter-in-law: John Zahl and Joanne Thomas; sister’s: Gayle Smith, Lorraine Koehler, Carol Burbank, Bonnie Hammond, and Susan Hulzebos; brother, Frank Zahl.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, MN is in care of the arrangements for Gladys.