Gloria Joy PROBST

When Gloria Joy was born on a kitchen table in Sawyer's Bar, California over 94 years ago, her mother surely could not have imagined the powerful impact her spunky little girl would have on the lives of so many.

Gloria was a member of the Karuk Tribe and came of age when indigenous children like herself were exposed to bigotry, forced assimilation, and sometimes even involuntary sterilization. Despite these constant challenges, Gloria had grit. She walked four miles to and from school every day and was known to be a precocious child, reading every single book in her school library. Her curiosity and intelligence were noticed by her teachers and even recruiters. Gloria was recruited by the U.S. Military Cadet Nurse Corps Program as one of the last WWII nursing cadets before the war ended.

After graduating from St. Anthony's School of Nursing in Wenatchee, WA in 1948, Gloria began her professional journey as a charge nurse in the men's medical-surgical unit in Wenatchee. This fateful career move led to her agreeing to a date with one of her surgical patients, a shy young WWII veteran who had recently lost some fingers in a workplace accident. Gloria and Norman ended up falling in love and marrying. They moved to Spokane in 1955 and raised their five children there.

Gloria's career continued to evolve and took her to a variety of hospitals with many different titles. She was a staff nurse during the Polio epidemic, an officer of the Washington State Nurses Association, a volunteer nurse for the Red Cross, a charge nurse in maternity, a staff nurse in pediatrics, surgical, and the ICU, and a coordinator for the Spokane Urban Indian Health Services and the WIC program, as well as an on-call nurse for the Spokane Reservation clinic and was even a summer camp nurse for the Mid Columbia Girl Scout Council Summer Camp. At the Girl Scout camp, she created fairy trails, convincing her grandchildren that real fairies lived among the trees and ferns.

Gloria was also a major contributor to the safe delivery of countless babies throughout her career. She was not only a maternity nurse but also taught childbirth and prenatal classes for many years. Gloria changed labor and delivery practices in Spokane, becoming the first Lamaze instructor in the city.

In addition to her nursing impact, Gloria was an active voice for the marginalized in her community. She was a member of the local Indian Child Welfare Committee, a Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Indian Community Center, the co-chair of the Spokane Falls Northwest Encampment and Pow Wow for 13 years, a member of the Minority Affairs Committee of the Washington State Nurses Association, and a member of the Social Ministries Committee for the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church of Missouri synod.

Gloria was listed as a "Who's Who of American Women" in 1979-1980, a "World's Who's Who of Women - Fourth Edition," "Who's Who in the West - 1980-1981," and was listed in the "Resource Guide of American Indian and Alaska Native Women." She was awarded the Liberty Bell Award from the local bar association in 2001, was honored with a plaque from the Spokane Falls Northwest Encampment and Pow Wow for her service as a "Culture Keeper" and has received several plaques and certificates for her service as a member of the Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory.

Although her resume is evidence of her excellence as a career woman, Gloria was also a lot of fun. Gloria's children and grandchildren have fond memories of her making her famous fry bread at the yearly Pow Wows, giggling when anyone dared to ask her for her secret recipe. She liked to stay up late, listening to music, working on puzzles, or reading (her favorite hobby of all.) Her grandchildren treasured her personalized gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve and her guest room with the plastic glowing Jesus lamp, where she would tuck them tightly under the covers when they stayed overnight. She had a great sense of humor, laughing when others might scold, and indulging when others might discipline.

She was patient, non-judgmental, and inclusive. She was an advocate ahead of her time; a woman who stood steadfastly on the right side of history. We are proud to have called her Mom and Grandma.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, three brothers, her daughter-in-law Diana, and her husband Norman, to whom she was married for 60 years. She leaves behind her five children and their spouses; David ThunderEagle, Kevin (Sally) Probst, Kim (Gerry) Rand, Randy (Stacie) Probst, and Jill Lewellen, as well as her fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.