Obituary of Gloria Elizabeth Westerdahl

Heaven gained a new ray of light on Sunday, March 17th with the arrival of Gloria "Glo" Elizabeth Epple Westerdahl. After 87+ years, Glo was called home where she was reunited with so many who passed before her including her parents, niece, friends, and too many pets to mention. 

Glo was born on November 6, 1936, to Lowell and Ruth Alyce Epple. She became a big sister to Madelyn (Cookie) 7 years later and spent her childhood in Chicago, Boston and eventually the Twin Cities. Glo graduated from Washburn High School in 1955 and went on to graduate from the University of MN. It was there she met her chosen sisters at the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and her future husband, Bill Westerdahl. 

She and Bill married in September 1958, moving to Bemidji MN where they lived for seven years welcoming three daughters into their lives. In 1967, they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, to the beautiful Black Hills. There, Gloria was busy raising her daughters, entertaining often with her amazing cooking and being the Story Lady every Saturday at the library. Summers were spent at the Red Squirrel Resort on Lake Plantagenet with an eventual move back to Bemidji. 

During her years in Bemidji, she rarely, if ever, was seen sitting down. From driving carloads to Grand Forks for ballet lessons to early mornings at the skating rink, to summers managing Ruttgers Birchmont Lodge's dining room and the Paul Bunyan Playhouse to winters sewing Madrigal costumes - she was always sharing her talents, gifts, time, encouragement, and unconditional love with whomever was in need. 

Pull of family and a divorce brought Glo back to the Twin Cities where she lived for the past 30 years and her reign as "mayor" officially took off. She spent 20+ years with the Minnesota Twins and was known by everyone from the front office to the players to security to the kitchen staff - everyone knew and loved Glo. And those feelings were reciprocated. 

Her love of theater and the arts were seen from Chanhassen Dinner Theater to the MN Orchestra to seeing Broadway shows in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York to supporting her kids and grandkids in their artistic endeavors. But the love of her life has always been family and her fur friends. Those that were related by blood and those that have chosen to be her family through the years. What a blessing being in her presence truly was. 

Glo is survived by three daughters: Elaine (Mike) Delaney; Cappy (Jay) Breuer; and Amy (Chris) Wexler; four grandchildren (their spouses and significant others) and four great grandchildren. 

Please join us at the Celebration of Glo's Life on Saturday, April 13th from 2-4 (with a short tribute at 3) at Target Field in the Puckett Atrium. We will share a toast, wave a homer hanky, and pause to remember this amazing woman whom we were blessed to call mom, grams, and grandma great. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to Hero's Heart Animal Rescue (herosheartrescue.org) or Chanhassen Dinner Theater (chanhassendt.com) can be made in Glo Westerdahl's name.