Gloria Jean Theis

Gloria Jean Theis, born October 13, 1948, passed away December 19, 2021, following a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease at home with family. Born and raised in Deer River, MN, she was the eldest of 7, including 5 brothers and 1 sister.

Memorial service will be held at 11am, Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be held at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

In life, Gloria was surrounded by many winged and 4 legged friends. At times thought to have special abilities in taming even the wildest of animals. She took in many strays and nursed an abundance of birds, puppies, and kittens to good health. She was often known as a barterer and bartered many items to gather more pets that she could love. At one time, adopting several abandoned and abused birds to help make them whole again. To some family members, her home was referred to as Gloria’s Zoo. She had an amazing green thumb and could bring life back into most anything. Could often be seen pruning flowers and transplanting snippets she was tending to. In her spare time, she often demonstrated her artsy side in crafts, including ceramics, crocheting, and painting while fashionably savoring the flavor of her favorite beverage, coffee. She valued music and could often be seen tapping her foot and singing to her favorite artists, The Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, and Elvis Presley. Sundays at home often included a day playing vinyls and showing her boys how to swing their hips. Mom had a great fashion sense and always bedazzled her hands with rings and never went without her nails looking glamorous. Gloria prided herself in her 3 boys, Steve (54), Bill (52) and Dewey (49), all of which were service members. This made her one proud mama.

On July 19, 1980, Gloria married the love of her life, Thomas Theis, after his tour of duty ended from the United States Marine Corps. They lived throughout southern Minnesota and settled primarily in Mapleton.

Gloria’s boys will always remember her for her strength in raising them and giving them the ability to persevere through difficult times. She will also be remembered for her ability to cook most anything, especially homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, and fried chicken. She had an infectious laugh and was known by many of the neighborhood kids as their adopted mother.

She valued long drives with her soulmate to various places throughout southern Minnesota to catch the glimpse of a deer, find a hole to drop a fishing line into, or just sit on a rock and capture a sunset. Rapidan Dam will always be remembered as “Moms favorite place to camp.” She lived a simple life and never enveloped herself with politics or things divisive. She lived one day at a time as fully as she could. She was content with life as long as it could be “fair to middling.”

Left to carry on her memory are her husband, Thomas Theis; sons, Steven, William “Bill,” and Dwayne “Dewey” Oothoudt; grandchildren, Chase Oothoudt, Ty Oothoudt, and Priscilla Oothoudt; brothers, Glenn Mellen, Gilbert Mellen; and sister, Theresa Schendel. She was blessed by many nieces and nephews as well.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Margaret Mellen; and brothers, Gary Mellen, Gerald Mellen and Gregory Mellen.

The family asks any donations in her memory be made to Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society at www.benchs.org. To honor her, simply live life one day at a time, follow your passions, and always stand strong in what you believe in. We will miss you, Mama.