Gladys V. Kaus, 96, of Wessington Springs, passed away Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Weskota Manor Avera, Wessington Springs.
Funeral Mass was Friday, Dec. 11 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plankinton with Father Bob Lacey officiating. A committal service followed at Mizpah Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was at the church Thursday, Dec. 10 with a 7 p.m. Rosary and wake service. Mount Funeral Home of Plankinton assisted with arrangements.
Gladys Viola (Larson) Kaus was born Aug. 11, 1919, to Henry and Mary (Nolan) Larson on their farm north of Plankinton as their fourth child. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plankinton. She attended grade school at Nolan Grove School near the farm and graduated from Plankinton High School in 1937 before graduating from Notre Dame Junior College in Mitchell with a teaching degree. She taught at rural Aurora County schools.
She married George A. Kaus on June 5, 1946, and to this union five children were born while living on farms in rural Aurora County, until finally settling in the northern part of the county in 1954. They moved to Wessington Springs in 2000, and she spent the past 10 years at Weskota Manor Avera.
Gladys enjoyed reading, word searches, bingo, gardening, and was involved in Altar Society and Birthday Club. The highlight of her life was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she loved to spoil.
She is survived by her children, Elton (Julie) Kaus of Wessington Springs, Monte (Pauline) Kaus of Woonsocket, Doreen (Jim) Miller of White Lake, and Denise (Gary) Van Zee of New Holland; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Don (Ann) Larson of Walnut Creek, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Cecilia VanderHeiden of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband, George in 2001; son, Darrell in 1974; grandson, Ryan in 1980; three little grand-angels; two sisters, Luella Gibson and Helen Vetter; a brother, Lawrence Larson; and many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Memorials may be directed to Weskota Manor Avera in Wessington Springs or St. John’s Catholic Church in Plankinton.
Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at mountfuneralhome.com