Gloria Sweeney

Gloria Sweeney

Gloria V. (Liberko) Sweeney, 83, died May 25, 2006, in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, with the Rev. Thomas E. Kramer officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be today from 3 to 9 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Gloria was born in Davenport, Iowa, Sept. 22, 1922, to Thaddeus and Blanche Liberko. She graduated from Ortonville High School, Ortonville, Minn., and then taught school in rural Minnesota. She married James L. Sweeney in St. Paul, Minn., in 1950. They moved to Underwood, and then to Bismarck in 1954.

Gloria and James had nine children. Gloria remained busy donating much time to PTA, Cub Scouts, altar society, church choir, Head Start Program, VFW, American Legion Club, DAV, and her favorite love, the Dakota Zoo.

Recently, Gloria was the first to receive the Eagle Award from the Dakota Zoo for 30 years of service as a zoo docent.

Gloria worked for the Morton County Library for many years driving the bookmobile. She cared for her mother for the last 10 years of her mother's life. Gloria stayed very active with family and friends until the last year, when she was diagnosed with cancer.

She is survived by her four sons and five daughters, James L. Sweeney Jr., Bismarck, Ellen (Royal) Handegard, Almont, Barbara (Bryan) Ringham and Kathleen Fowler, both of Bismarck, John Sweeney and Mike (Cecelia) Sweeney, both of Mandan, Judith Taylor, Minneapolis, Patrick (Rebecca) Sweeney, Mandan, and Mary (Alan) Crompton, Warroad, Minn.; her brother, Earl (Janice) Liberko, Cottage Grove, Minn.; her sister-in-law, Ursula Sweeney, St. Paul, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her special friends, Lucille Gustin and Carolyn Twite.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Sweeney; her parents, Thaddeus and Blanche Liberko; her grandson, Bryant Ringham; and a son-in-law, Steven Fowler.

Memorials may be given to the Dakota Zoo or charity of your choice.