Gladys Marie Novak, of Prior Lake, passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 at the age of 91. A visitation will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. A Celebration of Life Service is Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. Chaplain Jacquelyne Witter will preside. Gladys will be laid to rest at Credit River Cemetery. Pallbearers for Gladys are Martina Peterson, Carrie Mahoney, Nathan Novak, Christopher Novak, Rob Lee and Nicole Novak.

On August 25, 1924 Curt and Ethel Benson celebrated the birth of their daughter, Gladys Marie. She was the second of seven children and loved growing up in a big family. Throughout her childhood, Gladys’ family moved around a lot. Her father would rent a farm, fix it up, and make it prosperous. The whole family pitched in with the work, but once the farm was up and running, the owner would often sell the property, and the family would move on to another farm.

When Gladys was a teenager, her family settled in the Shakopee area. She loved to ride horses and would tell stories of riding her horse to school or to the fields to help with the field work. Gladys was a bright and dedicated student. She graduated from Shakopee High School one year early because of her academic abilities. After high school, she got a job at the Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance as a secretary.

When she was a young woman, Gladys met a nice young man at a local dance. Eddie saw her from across the room and knew right away that he was going to marry her. Gladys and Eddie exchanged wedding vows in 1947 and were blessed with five wonderful children. They settled in Prior Lake to raise their family, and Gladys lived in the same home the rest of her life.

Gladys was a stay at home mom for many years. She kept a meticulous house and was a wonderful mother. Once her kids were in school, Gladys began working outside the home. Gladys and Eddie ran a local restaurant called the Snack Bar. Next Gladys began working as a hostess and waitress at The Thunderbird Hotel. She was there for many years, and loved the friendly banter she had with all of her regular customers. In the early 80’s, she owned the Valley V-Store in Savage. She was very proud of being a small business owner. After she closed her business, she continued working in retail. First working at Seasonal Concepts at the then new Mall of America and finally at Tuesday Morning in Burnsville. She loved working and dealing with customers, but finally retired when she was 89 years old.

When Gladys wasn’t working, she was at ceramics. Gladys started attending ceramics class in the 80’s, and as she worked fewer days, she began to go to ceramics twice a week. A schedule she maintained until early January 2016 when her health began to fail. Gladys made many special items throughout the years, but most importantly… she made many wonderful friends. Gladys also spent her time involved in the community. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary, and she served as the group’s president from 1973-1974.

Family was always the most important thing in Gladys’ life. Gladys loved being a mother, grandma and most of all “GG”. She liked to play cards or games with her kids and grandkids. There was usually a puzzle set up in the living room and most everyone who passed through had to sit down for a while and find a few pieces with her. She enjoyed cooking family meals, and she taught her children to cook also. As getting around the kitchen became harder for her, she liked being invited to share meals at her children’s homes.

Gladys will be deeply missed and remembered always by her children, Nancy (Peter Nyhus) Novak, Mary (Nels) Nelson, Susan (Jerry) Mahoney, David (Jayne) Novak, Jerry (Joyce Wiita) Novak; grandchildren, Martina (Michael) Peterson, Carrie Mahoney, Nathan Novak, Christopher (Libby) Novak, Nicole Novak, Rob Lee, Andy (Brenda) Nyhus, Amy (Rob) Jung; great-grandchildren, McKenna Peterson, Riley Peterson, Cali Mahoney, Leah Novak, Lylee Dennehey, Myra Dennehey, Mary Nyhus; sister, Marlys Dittman, Darlene Lilleskov; Amy, Bethany and the entire Nelson Family; other loving relatives and special friends from ceramics.

There to greet Gladys in Heaven is her husband, Edwin Novak; parents, Curt and Ethel Benson; siblings, Virgil Benson, Dale Benson, Audrey Peterson, Lorraine Fideldy.

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