AMBOY - Gladys E. Lilja, 79, of Amboy, died Aug. 9, 2018 at Dixon Healthcare.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amboy with Pastor Barbara Otten officiating. Burial will follow at Woodside Cemetery in Lee Center. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17 at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home, Amboy and also from 9 a.m. until time of service on Aug. 18 at the church.

Gladys was born June 3, 1939 in Ross Township, Minn. to Martin C. and Hattie M. (Jorgenson) Kirkeide. She married Theodore “Ted” Lilja on Oct. 26, 1957 at Pauli Lutheran Church in Greenbush, Minn. He preceded her in death on June 5, 2016.

Survivors include one son, Edwin (Francine) Lilja of Amboy; one daughter, Lori (Tim) Sondgeroth of Dixon; four grandchildren, Jeffrey (Lisa) Lilja, Nicole Lilja, Trevor Sondgeroth and Brittney Sondgeroth; two sisters, Helen Anderson of Greenbush, Minn. and Ardith Dvergsten of Kansas City, Mo.; one brother, Merton Kirkeide of Greenbush, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three sisters, Muriel Geroy, Hilma Hyndman and Marlene Kropelnicki; and three brothers, Clifton, Orville and Richard Kirkeide.

Gladys graduated from Greenbush, Minn. High School in 1957. Prior to 1971, she worked in the office at Midwest Rug Factory and also was an insurance broker for several years. She co-owned Lilja Tiling and Excavating Service in Amboy with her husband. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amboy, a past matron and 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois in Rochelle, Amboy American Legion Auxiliary, the Red Hat Society, and was a past member of the Amboy Park Board.

Memorials have been established to the Amboy American Legion and the Amboy Fire Department.

Condolences may be sent online at www.thejonesfh.com.