GLADYS LEWIS

GLADYS LEWIS 10/05/1926 - 10/13/2025 Gladys G. Lewis, 99, of St. James, formerly of Lewisville, died on October 13, 2025, at Heartland Sr. Living in Truman. Visitation was on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 4 - 6 p.m. at Sturm Funeral in St. James. Visitation continued on Monday at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in St. James. A Celebration of Life service was held Monday, October 20, 2025, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in St. James. Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery in St. James. Arrangements were with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. Gladys was born on October 5, 1926, in Winona County to Alfred (Roy) Phipps and Elodie Ely Phipps, the youngest of seven children. Her family moved to the St. James/Lewisville area in 1929 where they lived on various Tilney farms over the next 16 years. She graduated from St. James High School in 1944. Her family moved to southern Wisconsin in 1945 where she lived until she married Leslie Lewis in September of 1946. After Leslie graduated from University of Minnesota in 1949, they moved to Lewisville where they farmed and raised their seven children. They lived on that farm for 63 years before moving to Prairie View in St. James. She and Leslie were married for 72 years. Gladys was an avid vegetable and flower gardener. She kept busy canning and feeding her large family but later found time to arrange flowers. She shared flower arrangements and corsages with many, including an arrangement for the altar at First Presbyterian Church every Sunday during the growing season for over 40 years. She took the Master Gardener course and served in that capacity for over 12 years. She was a 4-H club leader for 15 years, had been a member of the St. James Garden Club for eight years, was an elder and deacon at First Presbyterian, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and together with Leslie were named Watonwan County's Outstanding Senior Citizens in 2010. Gladys loved crafts and crocheting, sharing many of her creations with family and friends. She also did extensive research into family history and created a detailed book for each of her children complete with family trees and photos. Gladys is survived by her children, Marcia (Gene) of Burnsville, Jim (Jennifer) of Hackensack, Denise (Pat) of Eagan, Ken (Gloria) of Lewisville, Karen of Owatonna, Mary (Wayne) of Hager City, Wis.; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and other loving relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy in 1958; son-in-law, Chad Ruble in 2012; and her husband, Leslie in 2018. She was also preceded in death by all of her siblings, Marie (Al) Thomas, Alfred Phipps, Fred (Margie) Phipps, Tim (Lorinda) Phipps, Mollie (Roy) Kuhlman, and Sussie (Willis) Kuhlman; as well as Leslie's siblings, James (Phyllis), Ralph (Esther) and Betty Lewis. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Watonwan County Historical Society or donor's choice. The family would like to thank Heartland Sr. Living, the staff at St. James Hospital and St. Croix Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion.