Gloriann Barbara Rudolph, of Folsom, California, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Feb 6, 2020, at Kaiser Hospital after a valiant battle with pneumonia.
Born in Berlin Township, Steele County, MN, on May 24, 1935, and raised in New Richland, Gloriann was the oldest of two daughters born to Bernice (Reese) and Gordon Johnson. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale and confirmed at LeSueur River Lutheran Church in New Richland.
She reminisced frequently of her happy childhood growing up with her treasured baby sister,
Noreen, doting grandparents, and many, many cousins, aunts, and uncles. However, the premature death in 1949 of her adored father, Gordon, shadowed this and followed Gloriann forever. Family was her core.
After graduating from New Richland High School in 1953, Gloriann and girlfriends moved to Long Beach, CA, to begin her secretarial career. Returning a few years later to work in Minneapolis, she reunited with and married Daryle Rudolph, her childhood sweetheart, on February 19, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa. Thus began a 50-year marriage and adventure of family life and travel until Daryle’s passing in 2008. They lived all over the U.S., including Alaska, and Germany, during his military career while raising four children along the way. Gloriann continued her esteemed career throughout all of these relocations, working as an executive secretary to officials including military officers, physician groups, and oil and airline company CEOs. She retired in 1995 after 17 years of service as Executive Assistant to the City Manager of Folsom.
Gloriann loved reading and was a master of words and storytelling. There wasn’t a crossword puzzle she couldn’t solve or a game of Scrabble she couldn’t win. She was strong, loyal, proud, and honest. Possessing a keen sense of humor, “Glo” was witty and funny, traits that reflected her sharp intellect. She had a fierce passion for politics being a vocal, outspoken Democrat, and was darn proud of it! With an avid interest in genealogy, she researched and shared often her large family history. She loved San Francisco and enthusiastically played tour guide for visitors.
She also enjoyed spending summers with family at Lake Tahoe and “playing the slots.” Her most joyful times, however, were those spent with her children and grandchildren and visiting with her countless relatives and friends when returning to visit MN as often as she could. In many ways, she left her heart in MN.
We will forever remember this feisty, fun, fearless, independent, and opinionated one-of-a-kind woman. She worked hard, loved hard, and napped hard. You always knew she was in the room.
How we miss her big laugh, loud voice, and striking green eyes.
She is survived by her devoted children, Dixie (Kurt) Weidner of Novato, CA, Penny (Chris)
Micco of Petaluma, CA, Gordon Rudolph and Vann Rudolph, both of Folsom, CA; loving grandchildren, Luke, Jillian, Jack, Natalie, Eric, and Austin; siblings, Noreen (Gene) Lewis of Haleyville, AL, Curt (Sandra) Hendrickson , Keith (Laurie) Hendrickson, both of New Richland, MN, and Dawn (Jeff) Thompson of Byron, MN; brother-in-law, Wayne (Claudine) Rudolph of New Braunfels, TX, sister-in-law Pat Rudolph of Wasilla, AK , as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Daryle; father and mother; step-father, Raymond Hendrickson; father and mother-in-law, Herbert and Ann Rudolph; and sister and brothers-in-law, Beverly Strapko, Dale Rudolph and Eugene Rudolph.
A private inurnment was held at Lakeside Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum in Folsom, CA. A celebration of life service will be held in New Richland at a future date.