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

She was born June 3, 1939, in Ross Township, Minn., the daughter of Martin C. and Hattie M. (Jorgenson) Kirkeide. She graduated from Greenbush, Minnesota High School in 1957.

Prior to 1971, she worked at Midwest Rug Factory in the office and also was an insurance broker for several years.

Gladys co-owned Lilja Tiling and Excavating Service in Amboy with her husband.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amboy, 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 a Past Member of the Amboy Park Board.

Gladys married Theodore "Ted" Lilja on Oct. 26, 1957, at Pauli Lutheran Church in Greenbush, Minn. He preceded her in death June 5, 2016.

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

Survivors include her son, Edwin (Francine) Lilja, of Amboy; her 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.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amboy with Pastor Barbara Otten, officiating. Burial will follow in Woodside Cemetery in Lee Center. Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 17, in the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy and also on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of service in the church. 

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

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