Celebration of Life services for Sam Glantzow, 72, of Selby will be at 11 AM, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Selby. There will be a prayer service at 7 PM Monday at the church. Sam passed away Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

Samuel Leon Glantzow, passed away on September 3, 2026, at the age of 72. Known affectionately as either Sam, Mr. G, or Sneh, he was a unique character with a multitude of talents and interests.

Born in Philadelphia on December 5, 1953, Sam joined scouting at a young age because his mom was the cub leader, but continued with the organization throughout his teens, earning its highest honor of Eagle Scout. Sam had a curiosity about how things worked, and as a child would often be reprimanded for taking electronics apart but never putting them back together.

Sam was a graduate of Cherry Hill High School West. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Glassboro State College and later received a master’s degree from Northern Michigan University.

A math and science whiz, Sam was also a master of the French Horn and made the bold decision during his senior year of college to change majors and pursue his true love: music. That decision would shape the rest of his life. During his years at Northern Michigan University, he discovered the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and quickly fell in love with the Midwest, its friendly people, and its wide-open landscapes. From then on, he could not imagine living anywhere else.

Sam devoted his career to teaching students in Stockbridge, Wisconsin; Tulare, South Dakota; and for the final 26 years of his teaching career, he found a home in Selby, South Dakota. A teacher in the truest sense, he taught a variety of subjects, including band, physics, and chemistry, and coached cross country.

His dedication to music was especially evident during his years directing his various bands. In 1997–98, Sam and his Tulare Concert Band were recognized by the South Dakota State Legislature as one of the state’s outstanding small bands and for promoting excellence in music. He was also very proud of the marching bands that he created and directed. For the many students who passed through his classroom, rehearsal room, or cross-country program, Sam was more than a teacher; he was a mentor, coach, and motivator who encouraged them to discover what they could accomplish.

Outside the classroom, Sam embraced life with the same enthusiasm and curiosity that enabled him to disassemble the family Wurlitzer electric organ (and leave it that way). He loved music, skiing, traveling, photography,sushi, dim sum, TastyKakes, Wawa, and, perhaps most of all, trivia—where his memory for minutiae shone. He was a sought-after teammate and a feared opponent during trivia contests. In his later years, he discovered the joy of running, and during retirement, checked two more adventures off his bucket list: traveling on the QE2 and completing his first full marathon.

A devoted Philadelphia sports fan, Sam was an avid Eagles and Phillies supporter. He attended baseball games whenever he could and meticulously kept the scorecard for every game he attended, a fitting reflection of his attention to detail and his love of the game.

Sam will be deeply missed by his younger sisters, Phyllis and Carole; their husbands, Ray and Norman; nephews John and Danny; and cousins Karen, David, Amy, Harvey, Kaylee, Josh Linda, Michael, Steven, Sally, and his aunt, Shirley. He also leaves behind countless former students, runners, colleagues, and friends whose lives he touched.

Sam was truly one of a kind. His intelligence, independence, humor, adventurous spirit, honesty, and passion for learning and music made an impression on everyone who knew him. He built a life full of friendships, adventures, and memories that will endure. His family takes comfort in knowing how many people loved and looked after this East Coast bachelor, and in the wonderful stories and memories shared by those who knew him.

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