Gloria M. Harris, age 103, died Sunday, February 1, 2026 at the Mapleton Community Home in Mapleton, MN. Burial will be next to her second husband, Kenneth at Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth Friday, July 17th 2026 at 8:30am. A visitation will be Friday, July 17th, 2026 from 10:00am-11:00am in Minnesota Lake at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. A Memorial Mass will follow the visitation and start at 11am. A second burial will be next to her first husband, Daniel in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow the services at the Orange Door in Minnesota Lake starting at 12:30pm.
Memorials preferred to the Festag fund (P.O. Box 98, Minnesota Lake, MN 56068) or the Mapleton Community Home Activities Fund (301 Troendle St SW, Mapleton, MN 56065).
Gloria Mary was born July 13, 1922, daughter of Helmuth and LaRue (Newcombe) Fischer, in Brainerd, MN. The family moved back to Minnesota Lake before Gloria started school. There were four girls in the family: Ruth, Mary, Gloria and Neva.
Gloria married Daniel Woitas on October 13, 1938 and to this union two children were born, Shirlee in 1939 and Roger in 1941. Daniel died in a work fire while working on a car in the shop in Minnesota Lake. Gloria married Kenneth Harris on July 7, 1950 and to this union two children were born, Paul in 1952 and LaRue in 1953. Kenneth died in 1952.
Gloria got her beautician license after Kenneth died. She worked in her own shop in Minnesota Lake, in Ashland, Oregon and Mankato, MN at the Gus Johnson Plaza. She moved into the Mapleton Community Home after experiencing a head trauma. With the wonderful care she received at the home, Gloria’s health returned, and she spent the last 19 years at MCH. She lived a very active life, she loved putting puzzles together, reading, playing games and going to her family celebrations. Minnesota Lake’s Festag and Mapleton’s Town and Country days being the favorites to attend every year.
Gloria’s family included daughter Shirlee (Norman) Stevens, son Roger (Vicky) Woitas, son Paul (Rita) Harris, and daughter LaRue (Craig) Staloch; 8 grandchildren: Paula Jo (Keith) Stiernagle, Linda (Clay) Hager, Mike (Andrea) Stevens, Mark (Bridget) Woitas, Amy (Mark) Smekrud, Derek (Jill) Staloch, Aaron (Krista) Staloch, and Kyle (Katie) Staloch; 14 great grandchildren: Bryant (Jenny) Stiernagle, Justin (Erin) Stiernagle, Melissa (Mike) Strohfus, Collin (Dawn) Hager, Amelia (Max) Goligowski, Katie Stevens, Jade Stevens, Cole Stevens, Cassy (Kyle) Sitter, Nicki (Brian) Denning, Becca (Griffin) Robertson, Kacey Smekrud, Megan Smekrud, and Erin Smekrud; 17 great-great grandchildren: Lilly, Lydia, Erica, Ethan, Aidan, Mallory, Makenna, Addison, Jack, Sophia, Ben, Morgan, Riley, Jordan, Bailey, Brandon, and Ryan; 9 great-great-great grandchildren: Lily, Landon, Piper, Scottie, Emery, Nolan, Greyson, Braxton, Mila, and one on the way; sister-in- law Cheryl Loggins; along with many nieces and nephews on both sides; as well as the family she gained at the Mapleton Community Home.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Daniel Woitas; husband Kenneth Harris; daughter LaRue Staloch; son-in-law Norman Stevens; and sisters Ruth Klinder, Mary Sorenson, and Neva Quade.
This amazing woman , who I had the amazing privilege of knowing who loved us all like her own. Gloria was the prime example of the benefits that can bring into living at a nursing home! She is already incredibly missed! My dear friend, my advocate, teacher, and all around amazing person who we should all strive to have this much positive energy and gratitude for life! You are so missed and thank you to Her wonderful family for entrusting us to provide her with her last 19 years!
We became very fond of Aunt Gloria while she lived in Ashland. We could not miss visiting her in her home in Minnesota Lake, Mankato and Mapleton. She was such a joyful, spunky encourager.
When we lose someone we love we must learn not to live without them but to live with the love they left behind.
I hope friends and family will come July 17th to help us celebrate the life of this remarkable lady. You know she loved to get together for smiles and stories!
Contact me if you have questions about celebration.
She was also a hairdresser at the Mapleton Community home.
My Aunt Gloria was a special person in my life. When she would visit our farm home in Blue Earth, MN it was always a happy time. She brought smiles, and a positive spirit to my young life. I adored her. Later, I followed her Cosmetology profession and worked in her beauty shop in the basement of her home in MN Lake for a summer. We stayed in contact all of her life, celebrating her birthdays especially when she celebrated the 100 + years. My last visit with Aunt Gloria was in November, 2025. We talked about current events. She was mentally sharp and interesting to converse with. She loved her puzzles and she had a system to assemble them. I will miss driving to Mapleton to visit her. I will miss her beautiful smile and her personal tours of her ‘Home” for the last 20 years. She was so proud of the new Chapel. I will miss her gentle hugs. God Bless you Aunt Gloria.
What a beautiful reunion with her beautiful daughter LaRue❤️Peace to all the Harris & Staloch families
Gloria was always so very proud of her wonderful family! Her cousin, Leo Liebl, my late husband, and I, always enjoyed our visits with her.
Gloria certainly showed much spirit, courage and perserverance in the face of adversity. This should be a good example for all of us. She was a remarkable woman!
May happy memories bring peace and comfort to her family and friends!