March 23,2022 Gladys Katherine (Beck) Huber
Gladys Katherine (Beck) Huber was born on April 3, 1930, to Adolph and Sylvia (Short) Beck. Gladys was the second child, with an older sister Floy, a younger brother James, and a younger sister Velda. Gladys went home to be with Jesus on March 18, 2022.
She grew up on the Beck family farm, 4 miles east of Lenox. As a young girl, she would take her dolls and some blankets and make playhouses and forts in the grove of trees behind her house. She helped with chores on the farm, including gathering corn cobs to burn in their stove, feeding the Hereford cattle, the pigs, and tending the chickens. In 1936, a terrible snowstorm hit the area and piled up the snow over the fences. Her dad built 14 steps in the snow so Gladys and Floy could get to the chicken house. Gladys walked to school every day, 1 mile north of their farm. When it was muddy, their boots got so heavy with mud it was difficult to walk that distance.
Gladys was a member of the Platte Peppy Pals 4-H club, and a member of Calvary Church east of their home. The family attended Calvary Church until 1950 when it closed. After church, the family would gather at someone›s home for homemade ice cream and visiting. The ice had to be purchased on Saturday, so it was kept in the barn under the hay to keep it cold.
Gladys met Darrell Huber at the Villa Rio skating rink in Lenox. They were married at the Calvary Church on April 9, 1950. As a young married woman, she worked at Folcey’s Market for extra income. Gladys and Darrell had three children: William, Dorothy, and John.
Gladys was involved in several activities, including being a Boy Scout den mother, helping with 4-H projects and many church activities. She and Darrell joined many square-dancing clubs in the area and loved to dance. She was president of the Legion Auxiliary and helped with the Cookshack at the rodeo for the Auxiliary. She raised a big garden every year and continued this even into her 80s. She loved her flowers as well and used them to decorate friends and relatives’ graves on Memorial Day.
In 1964, she took her first painting class and fell in love with painting with oils. She continued painting for years after that and enjoyed creating mountain scenes and wildlife. She had a knack for all crafts and always had a project in progress.
She was also very creative with strings, and she learned to knit, crochet, and embroidery, making Afghans, doilies and pillowcases. She was also a talented baker. She was known around Lenox for her delicious doughnuts, pies, cakes, and cookies. She would get up early in the morning and make doughnuts, then take them to uptown businesses and then she sold them for extra income. She also made many wedding cakes for different couples. The grandchildren remember grandma making them peppermint shakes when they came to visit.
Gladys worked as a custodian for the Methodist Church, a laundry lady for Taylor Ridge Estates, a cook for the Lenox schools, plus many side jobs including mowing lawns for other people.
After the passing of her husband Darrell in 1982, she married Kenneth Gose in 1988. They spent their retired years traveling around the country.
Left to cherish her memory are her sister Floy (Beck) Davenport; Gladys’s children William (Sherry) Huber of Lucas, Iowa, Dorothy (Stan) Knox of Clearfield, Iowa, and John (Holly Haynes) Huber of Des Moines, Iowa. Also included are her grandchildren Teresa (Jeremy) Middents, Michael (Bethany) Knox, Travis (Allison) Knox, Christopher (Carrie) Knox, Tiffany Huber, and Jeffrey Huber; and her great grandchildren Nicole and Allison Middents; Tucker, Mackenzie, Emily and Callie Knox; Courtney, Carson, and Cora Knox; and Kohen and Lindie Knox; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
Gladys is preceded in death by her parents Adolph and Sylvia Beck; husband Darrell Huber and second husband Kenneth Gose; brother James Beck; sister Velda Epps Mullen; brothers-in-law Russell Davenport, Robert Epps, Conrad Mullen, Joe Matheny; sister-in-law Marilyn (Vogel) Beck.
Visitation was held at the Lenox United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with funeral services 11:00 am Thursday, March 24 at the church. Burial is in the North Fairview Cemetery. Memorials are to the Lenox United Methodist Church. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of her arrangements.
