Gladys Kieser

Dates

Obituary

Gladys Kieser, 96, of Wessington Springs, SD, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Westoka Manor Avera in Wessington Springs. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Monday, November 25, at Wessington Springs Methodist Church. Burial will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6:00 PM at Wessington Springs Methodist Church with a 6:00 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Gladys Darlene Leischner Kieser was born to Edward and Esther (Hoffman) Leischner on May 28, 1928, at the Marie McVey Maternity Home in Wessington Springs, SD.  She ascended to her heavenly Father on November 17, 2024.  She was baptized October 14, 1928, in the New Zion German Congregational Church of their neighborhood in Bates Township, Hand County in SD and confirmed in 1942 in the Congregational Church of Wessington Springs, SD.

Gladys graduated from the Wessington Springs High School in 1946.  The summer after High School graduation she was employed in the office of the South Dakota Health Department in the Capitol in Pierre, SD.  That fall she accepted an office position in the AAA (now FSA) Office in the Jerauld County Courthouse, at the invitation of John Waybright (because he knew Kenny wanted her closer).  Two years later she served as Teller and Bookkeeper at the Bank of Wessington Springs until August of 1950.

Gladys married her high-school sweetheart Kenneth L. Kieser on August 27, 1950, and they remained in love and were married nearly 64 and ½ years until Ken’s passing on February 8, 2015.  They lived on the Kieser homestead farm Southeast of Wessington Springs until 1993.  Their union was blessed with three children: Randall Ivan in 1951, Debra Jan in 1954, and Jeffry Kenneth in 1960.

Her passion was music, and she loved to sing, many times as a duet with Ken. It was not unusual to hear her singing as she worked around the house or in the yard.

She loved the Lord, and her church was a priority in her life, serving in various positions, a member of UMW, sang in church choirs for 48 years, and said that the worst thing that ever happened to her was when a paralyzed vocal cord put an end to her singing, Many would agree.

At the age of 60, she joined the work force again and was hired by the Soil Conservation Office to help with the Wetland Inventory in Jerauld and Sanborn Counties in 1988, she began working part time for Bridgman Law Office and worked there until 2000.  At the age of 75, her artist friend, Linda Durdle, introduced her to the joy of painting, which became another passion, and the proof of her talent is in the many flower, portrait, and special paintings she did for several of her great-grand kids.

A great joy of her life was her four grandchildren, and she cherished the times when they would come to visit Grandpa & Grandma.  In later years, the arrival of great grandchildren was “the frosting on the cake”.

Ken and Gladys enjoyed traveling and through the years, traveled in all but seven states, realized a lifelong dream of going to Europe, and Hawaii.  Their 50th Anniversary was celebrated with an Alaskan Cruise, a gift from their children.  Their favorite vacation spot was Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills.

Gladys passed on to be with her Lord, November 17, 2024. Left to mourn her departure and yet celebrate her wonderful life are son Randy and wife Linda of Torrington, WY; daughter Debbie and husband Dale Kunkel of Loveland, CO., son Jeffry (Hub) and wife Laura of Wessington Springs, SD.; grandchildren: Paul and wife Danielle Kunkel of Laramie, WY, Kayla and husband Trevor Madler of Burns, WY, Andrea and husband Brian Feist of Jordan, MN, and Reid and wife Carina Kunkel of Clackamas, Oregon; 11 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and her brother Dale Leischner of Buffalo, WY.

Preceding her in passing were her husband, Kenneth; parents; parents-in-law Ward and Lulu Kieser; sisters Rella Beaudoin, Jean Jones, and Betty Klaus; three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.

Due to Baker’s Design being temporarily closed for an out of town event, flowers and gifts can be ordered through Nepstad’s Flowers and Gifts at 605-996-4323. Memorials may be directed to Wessington Springs Methodist Church, PO Box 396, Wessington Springs, SD 57382.

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