Gloria Ann STRANDQUIST

1933 - 2024

She was born on May 12, 1933, to Hazel and Rodney Olsen. As an only child, Gloria has no siblings.

After graduating from Waterloo High School, Gloria received her nurse's training from Methodist Kahler School of Nursing, graduating in 1976. Upon receiving her nursing license, she worked in the operating room at the Mayo Clinic for 20 years. After that, she moved to Greeley, Colorado, and worked as a staff nurse at Weld County Hospital. There she met her lifelong friend Joan Thiele. The two shared many activities and experiences during their 58-year-long friendship. After moving to Greeley, she began taking courses at Colorado State College in Greeley (Now the University of Northern Colorado). She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1970.

In 1970, she moved to Tempe, Arizona. She worked as the operating room supervisor at Mesa Lutheran Hospital until 1976. She completed her Master's degree in nursing from Arizona State University. Once, when Gloria was struggling with writing her thesis, Joan handed her a cut-out of an elephant and taught her how to carve it. This relieved her stress and enabled her to finish her thesis. In addition, she learned to enjoy wood carving.

Upon leaving Tempe, she moved to Beaumont, Texas. She became an instructor of nursing at Lamar University and taught there for a year. After a year, she moved to Pocatello, Idaho, and taught nursing for 10 years at Idaho State University. Her students learned from her experiences and her friendly and effective manner of teaching.

She next moved to Spokane, Washington, and ended her teaching as an instructor at North Idaho College. During her nursing career, she earned many awards including a Sterling Silver Award as Employee of the Month, in May 1995 from North Idaho College and a Certificate of Achievement from Horizons Unlimited for excellence in teaching.

After retirement, Gloria continued her teaching, but an entirely different subject. She taught woodcarving to many students from Spokane and surrounding areas. As a carver, she won many ribbons from entering her carvings in numerous area carving shows. She was made a lifetime member of the Spokane Carvers Association in 2017.

Gloria was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society, the Catholic Daughters of America, and the Spokane Woodcarvers Association.

Gloria requested no flowers. Donations are being accepted at the Spokane Humane Society. The Mass of Christian Burial is Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 503 N. Walnut Rd., Spokane Valley, Washington, followed by a Reception in the Parish Hall. The Committal follows the Reception and is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, 17825 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley, Washington. To leave condolences visit www.hennesseyvalley.com.