Gladys Richter

Gladys Richter, 90, of Sioux Falls, died Thursday, July 27, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Luther Manor surrounded by family and the caregivers who loved her.

Gladys Marilyn Unverzagt was born September 24, 1926, in Oldham, South Dakota to Ervin and Mabel Unverzagt. She graduated from Hetland High School in 1944 and spent the following year teaching country grade school in Kingsbury county.  She Joined the Army Cadet Nurse Corp program at Sioux Valley Hospital in 1945 and graduated from the Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing in 1948.  She spent the next few years nursing in Sheldon, Iowa, where she worked at a hospital managed by the Good Samaritan Society.  Glady met a young man from Sheldon who was the love of her life.  She and Clifford Richter were married August 21, 1951 and raised five children: Julie Giedd (Ron), Jil Sova (Paul), Steve Richter (Denise), Jan Anderson (Glenn), and Joni Sundby (Ron).  Cliff preceded her in death March 4, 1985.

Glady loved nursing and during her nursing career, the care and comfort of her patients was a top priority. She worked at Sioux Valley Hospital for 25 years, many of those spent on the old 1st floor north urology wing.

Glady was a founding and lifelong member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. She completed Stephen Ministry training at OSL in the 1990’s.  She still wanted to “nurse” in any way she could even after retirement from Sioux Valley Hospital.  Glady was also a member of WELCA, Faith Circle, and the Sioux Valley Nurses Alumni.

Glady was a compassionate and loving person and welcomed everyone she met with a smile. She had a quick wit and a funny, quirky, and sometimes droll sense of humor.  She spent her last 10 years at Luther Manor and became an unofficial “greeter” for new residents.  Glady was an avid Minnesota Twins fan (We’re gonna win Twins, we’re gonna score!”) and willed her passionate love of the game to all of her kids and grandkids.

She was an especially good Grandma to Chad Giedd, Dan and Laura Sova, Josh and James Richter, Ryan, Jenna, and Jaime Anderson, and Jacob Nolte. Glady was also blessed with 16 great grandchildren.  Also, grateful for having shared her life are her sister, Marlene Althaus and brother, Jim Unverzagt.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Wendell Unverzagt, and son-in-law, Ron Giedd.

Mom had a favorite farewell she used after every visit with her family and we send it with her as our last goodbye. “Love you Mom, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, August 5, 1:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home. Please join the family for fellowship and lunch directly after the service.

Any memorial can be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association. www.heritagesfsd.com