Gladys Motl

Gladys A. Motl, age 90, formerly of Staples, passed away late Tuesday evening at the Long Prairie Memorial Hospital in Long Prairie. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 PM Sunday, December 16, 2007, at the Motley Free Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Spring at Riverside Cemetery in Moran Township.
Gladys Arvilla Motl was born on March 14, 1917, in Staples, MN, the daughter of William and Ethel (Young) Judd. She grew up and went to school in the Staples area. In 1933 she was united in marriage to Clarence Earl Motl in Long Prairie, MN. To this union 3 children were born. Gladys and Clarence were able to share 52 years of marriage before he died in 1985. Gladys served the community in many different ways. She helped to organize and implement the Senior Nutrition program in Staples and was a VIP driver for many years. Besides raising their own children Gladys and Clarence took in many other children, giving them a home and a loving family. Among the things she enjoyed were knitting, cooking and baking, especially pies, but most of all being with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ethel; her husband, Clarence in 1985; 2 sisters; and 2 brothers. Gladys will be deeply missed by her children, Gary Motl of Staples, James (Mary) Motl of Moran Township, and Betty (John) Paape of East Bethel, MN; 8 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Norma Knox of Staples; a brother, Rueben Judd of Staples; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Gladys family wish to say a special thank you to the Joyce Thiel family for the special attention and care given in her last years.