Gloria Mae Gilson

Gloria M. Gilson, age 92, of Yankton, South Dakota and formerly of Crofton, Nebraska, died Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, South Dakota.

No local services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton, South Dakota.

Gloria M. Gilson was born April 18, 1932, in Troy, Missouri to Newland and Florence (Oden) Reeves. She grew up in Mound Valley, Kansas and graduated from Garden City High School in Garden City, Kansas in 1950. She then moved to Long Beach, California to attend cosmetology school. It was here that she met, Richard Gilson and they were married on December 27, 1951. Richard was in the Navy so Gloria and Richard moved all over the coast. During this time, Richard worked on the Gavins Point Dam so the family found their home in Crofton, Nebraska. As Richard continued his military career the family continued to move all over the United States but always found their way back to Crofton anytime Richard was deployed. Gloria worked in various jobs wherever the family was including at the State Hospital in Yankton. In their later years they moved to Yankton and loved to travel and stay on the move.

Gloria loved being a housewife and homemaker and loved taking care of her family and her husband. She was a very devoted wife, making sure Richard had everything he needed. She was always looking out for her family and friends and would often provide a listening ear to anyone who needed it.

Survivors include her four children: Chuck (Charlii) Gilson of Yankton, South Dakota; Junior Gilson of Yankton; Gloria Diana (Jim) Deibert of Charleston, South Carolina; and Sherwin Dean “PeeWee” (Trudy) Gilson of Jacksonville, Florida; seven grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; three step grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mary Jane Buschelman; and many nieces and nephews in the Crofton, Fordyce and Yankton areas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; two grandchildren: Charles Henry Gilson III and Jonathan Gilson; brother, Howard Reeves; sister, Etta Lucille Lamm; sisters-in-law: Frances (Rolly) Burkett and Eileen (B.H.) Davidson; and brother-in-law, Cletus Buschelman.