Glora Irene Claeys, age 95, of the Oakes/Hecla area passed away at the Oakes Good Samaritan Society on Saturday November 18th 2023.
Glora was born on September 10th 1928 in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Loy Hold and Orville “Jessie” Rounsville. Glora spent her early years in Henryetta. Loy and Glora moved to South Dakota where Loy married Art Gruett who adopted Glora. Glora graduated from Hecla High School. She later attended college and earned her teaching certificate at Northern State College. She taught in a one room schoolhouse down the road from her family farm.
Glora married Marshall Claeys on November 30th 1950. Together they lived on Marshall’s family farm on the North Dakota - South Dakota border. Marshall and Glora were blessed with five children. Throughout her lifetime the family worked together to raise cattle and other animals on the same family farm. Glora will be remembered for her commitment and dedication to her children and family, her cats, dogs, and in general her love of animals, wildlife, birds, gardening, flowers, plants, nature, reading, collectables, shopping, sparkles, yellow sports cars, sunsets, fireworks, charities, and music. Glora also loved to travel by car in her later years.
Glora is survived by her children Mark (Sandy) Claeys, Glenna (Will) Thomas, Marcella (Mike) Rehovsky, Michael Claeys, Matthew (Tammy) Claeys, eleven grandchildren, and a handful of great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents Loy and Art Gruett, her husband Marshall, in laws, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. followed by her funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Oakes. Her committal service will be Saturday, December 2nd at 3:30 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen, SD.
In lieu of cards and flowers please make a donation to a local charity. Glora loved supporting local charities and made many donations to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society, Cat’s Cradle, Medora’s Cowboy Hall of Fame, Minn-Kota Paaws, different veteran’s programs, service and guide dog programs as well as wildlife, tree and soil conservation charities.
Memories may be shared and viewed by visiting the Dahlstrom Funeral Home website at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com
