Gladyce Henrickson

The funeral for Gladyce Wells Henrickson, 83, of Eagle Bend, was held Tuesday, June 1, 2004 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Eagle Bend, Minnesota, with Pastor Cordell Strug and Pastor Mary Carol Strug officiating. Interment was in the Eagle Bend Cemetery with Rod C. Perry, Sr., Rodney C. Perry, Jr., Ryan Perry, Thomas E. Henrickson, Jack H. Becker and Karen Becker Reich serving as pallbearers. Gladyce Marie Wells was born April 13, 1921 in Paxton Township near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She was the eldest of six children born to Frederick Glen and Helen Alma (Champion) Wells. Her childhood years were spent on the farm owned by her grandmother, Kitty Champion. Gladyce graduated from the Redwood Falls High School in 1940 and went to work as a secretary in Marshall. On October 10, 1943 Gladyce and Melvin I. Henrickson were united in marriage. They lived in Minneapolis while Mel attended a trade school. Following his graduation, the couple moved to Long Beach, California. They adopted two children, Patrice Marie and Thomas Emil. While the children were growing up, Gladyce was active with the Parent Teachers Association in their schools and with Tom?s sports involvement and music. She also worked for Northrop Aviation and later managed the Science Museum of Fullerton. In 1980, they came to Eagle Bend to spend their retirement years. Gladyce was active in her faith, joining the Faith Lutheran Church. She was one of the founders of the Eagle Bend Historical Society and served as its liaison to the Eagle Bend Area Development Commission. Gladyce loved her sports and was an armchair coach for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings and any football team for which her son-in-law, Rod, was playing or later coaching. Gladyce was preceded in death by her husband, Mel, on May 26, 1990; her parents; sisters Kathryn Hennessy and Lois Hayenga Noetzelmann; brothers Russell E. Wells and Glenn N. Wells and her special friend, Joseph Garrow. She is survived by her daughter Patrice (Rod, Sr.) Perry and their children, Rodney, Jr., Ryan and Miranda of Charlotte, North Carolina; son Thomas E. Henrickson, Corona, California; Tom's daughter, Tyra and her son, Dylan. Other immediate family includes her sister, Carol W. (Jack) Becker of Eagle Bend and numerous nephews and nieces.

Gladyce Henrickson

April 13, 1921 - May 27, 2004