Gladys Elaine Svobodny

Gladys E. Svobodny, age 97, of Willmar, passed away Thursday, October 30, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral mass at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 7, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery following the funeral service. Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Norwegian American Historical Association (NAHA) http://norwegianamericanhistory.org or charitable organization of your choice. www.petersonbrothers.com

Gladys was born on July 29, 1928, to Carl and Anna (Flatebo) Alvig in Dovre Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. She was baptized at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church in rural Willmar and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar.

Gladys attended rural grade school at District #62, Dovre Township through the eighth grade, then attended Willmar High School, graduating in 1946. After high school, Gladys did secretarial work for an accounting firm and worked for a time at Northwestern Bell.

It was during this time that Gladys met the love of her life, Clyde Svobodny. They courted after meeting at the local roller rink and were joyfully united in marriage on June 12, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar. They were married for 76 years, until Clyde’s passing in 2024.

Gladys and Clyde resided in Danube until 1950, when they moved to Willmar. Gladys continued to work after she was married also finding opportunities to contribute to her community. As a member of St. Mary’s, Gladys helped serve funeral lunches, attended Bible study groups, and served as wedding coordinator and eucharistic minister to the homebound. Gladys’ Norwegian heritage was very important to her, leading to her active membership in the Norwegian organizations Vestlandslag and Hardangerlag. She cherished her trip to Norway to visit her mother’s ancestral home.

Their four children and eventually, grandchildren, were the center of Gladys’ world. Gladys’ fierce love for her family led her to cherish the times around her table with them. Known for her delicious cooking, she would prepare for days before family gatherings, making sure she had everyone’s favorite treats and dishes.

Loved ones will remember and miss Gladys’ spunk and quick wit, practicality and kindness, and lived examples of faith. Though she tended to fret about everyone’s well-being, her courage, strong values and beliefs saw her through life’s ups and downs. She was known to say, “I’m a tough Norwegian!”

She is survived by three children, Michael (Miriam) of Alexandria, James (Kay) of Mankato and Daniel (Lisa) of Brookings, SD.; nine grandchildren, John (Jeannie) Svobodny, Eric (Molly) Svobodny, Kristen (Mitch) Quick, Julie (Shain) Golyer, Mike (Jenny) Curtis, Sarah Johnson, Jordan Svobodny, Alexander Svobodny and Geoffrey Svobodny, and eight great-grandchildren, besides several beloved nieces and nephews.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Svobodny; her parents; two sisters, Mildred Brandt and Beatrice Frankus; one brother, Gerald Alvig; one daughter, Mary Aistrup; a son-in-law, James Curtis and several in-laws.