Gloria Eunice Sundquist | February 1935 - July 2021
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Jul 7, 2021 | 5:38 AM / 315 views
Gloria Eunice Sundquist passed away July 2, 2021 in Pierre, SD. Gloria was born on February 8, 1935 in Bristol, SD to Marjorie and Sigurd Knudsen. She was the youngest daughter of two. She spent her school years in Bristol and at 15 decided she wanted to see the world. So, she and her sister Della went to Mankato MN to Commercial College to study secretarial and book keeping. She and her sister moved from Mankato to Providence, RI to work. Gloria worked at a Providence department store designing window displays. It was found out by her employer she was only 16 years old and then lost her position. She then moved to New York City taking a job with Teachers’ Annuity Insurance Company on 5th Avenue. Gloria later took a Barbizon modeling course and became a showroom model in the garment district of New York City. Of course her sister followed her to NYC about the time Gloria decided to come home to South Dakota to go to school at USD. While studying there, she met the love of her life Don Sundquist who was a drama and arts graduate student at USD. They were married in April 1956. Gloria gave birth to twin daughters Dania Lynn and Diana Lee in North Carolina where Don was working as a professor at Ashville Biltmore College. They then moved to Hibbing, MN then Fargo, ND and eventually Langhorne, PA. During this time the family spent summers in the Black Hills of SD at the Black Hills Playhouse for summer theater. The family eventually moved to Fort Lauderdale where she lived until 2021. Gloria was an exceptional artist. She loved animals (especially cats) and had the opportunity to illustrate several children’s books about animals. She worked as a teacher, sales person, and as a receptionist at a yacht club. She made many friends while traveling, enjoying Scottish dancing and the Red Hat Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents Marjorie and Sigurd Knudsen. She leaves her sister Della Andre of Pierre, SD, daughter Dania (Tom) Phelps of Custer, SD and Dania’s son Garret Larson of Rapid City, SD, daughter Diana (John) Carson of Custer, SD and Diana’s daughters Katie Hammer and Claire Colgan of Rapid City, SD along with her nephews William, Craig and Richard Andre.
Per Gloria’s wishes, no services will be held.
Memorials may be directed to a local Humane Society in her name in lieu of flowers.
