Gladys Marie Welty

While her family was in the process of relocating from Oklahoma to Oregon, Gladys was born in Dinuba, CA on August 5, 1926, to parents Menno Dalke and Mary Warkentin Dalke. She joined sister Clora Mae and brother Glen Clayton.

At 6 weeks of age the family arrived in Salem, OR and purchased 10 acres on Sunnyview Rd. For the remaining 99 ½ years of her life, she lived within a 3-mile radius of her “home place,” with the exception of 3 years spent in the Army Cadet Nursing Program at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, OR.

Two brothers, John and Richard, were born within a couple of years of the family’s arrival in Salem. The family started attending Emmanuel Mennonite Church (now Emmanuel Bible Church) in Pratum, OR on Christmas Eve of 1926. Gladys continued as a member until her time of passing. It was there that she met her future husband, Grover Welty.

Gladys attended Swegle Grade School, Parrish Jr. High and Salem High School. She graduated with the class of 1944. This class met yearly for a reunion until 2024 – their 80th. This earned them a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records! On August 20, 1946 she married Grover Welty and in 1947 she graduated from nurses training at Good Samaritan.

She worked as a registered surgical nurse for several Ophthalmologists in Salem, beginning with Dr. Hammerstad, followed by Dr. Stenorodden and Drs. Rowell, Wood, Harris, and Gow. In 1977 she became a Physician’s Assistant.

Her son, Stan, was born in 1948, followed by daughter, Kathie in 1951, and son John in 1954. She had 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Her family was truly blessed to have had such a wonderful, caring mother, grand, and great grandmother. She was a beautiful person both inside and out. Her home was filled with love and lots of laughter.

Friends were plentiful and she was much loved by her neighbors and church family. She was always very involved with church activities. Loving little kids, she helped in vacation bible school for over 45 years. She headed up the Beginner’s Sunday School program for 30+ years, and she was involved with women’s ministry and the church choir.

Gladys was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Grover; her sister Clora Mae Singer and brothers Clayton Dalke and John Dalke. She is survived by her brother Richard Dalke and his wife Mary; her children and spouses – Stan and Betty Welty of Monmouth, OR; Kathie and Dan Hess of Walla Walla WA; John and Denise Welty of Eugene, OR. Her grandchildren and spouses – Jennifer Welty and Hayden Mouat, Melissa and Earl Wood, Peter and Amy Hess, Jamie and Pierce Johnson; Kaitlyn Welty, Karly Welty, and fiancé Erin Napier.

Please join us for a memorial service at the Emmanuel Bible Church, Pratum on March 14 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Glady’s memory to Emmanuel Bible Church, Union Gospel Mission, Salem, or BeLoved Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations:

Union Gospel Mission

777 Commercial St NE

Salem, Oregon 97301

United States

[https://www.ugmsalem.org/donate" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.ugmsalem.org/donate](https://www.ugmsalem.org/donate)

Emmanuel Bible Church

8512 Sunnyview Rd NE

Salem, Oregon 97305

United States

[https://ebcsalem.tpsdb.com/Give/onlinegiving" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ebcsalem.tpsdb.com/Give/onlinegiving](https://ebcsalem.tpsdb.com/Give/onlinegiving)