On Saturday September 19, 2020, Gloria Maye (Bradley) Rose, 76, passed away surrounded by her loving family after a six-year battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Gloria was born to Harold Taylor Bradley and Marjorie Maye (Caldwell) Bradley on May 18, 1944 in Sioux Falls, SD.  She was the first of their four children.  Gloria lived in Sioux Falls all of her life, attending public school and graduating from Washington High in 1962.  As part of the DECA program during her senior year, she attended SD Beauty Academy in the afternoons. Gloria was proud to graduate from both, less than three weeks apart.

The early years of her life were spent on Williams Avenue where her parents met and befriended the Rose family.  This is where Richard and Gloria's lives would begin to intertwine.  They spent time playing together as children before the Bradley family moved to a small farm on the East side of town.  It was during high school the two would fall in love and begin planning their lives together.

They were married on November 24, 1962.  Richard and Gloria's family began to grow as they welcomed their first daughter, Cindy, in 1963, followed by Shelly in 1965, and finally Kim in 1970.

Gloria worked for several different Beauty Shops from 1962 to 1968.  From 1968 to 1974 she worked as a nutrition aide for the Minnehaha Co Extension office during the rollout of the new food stamp program.  Gloria started working for the City of Sioux Falls as a parking lot attendant in 1975, but was forced to medically retire in 1982 after a serious fall.  Gloria taught her family the meaning of being a generational caregiver.  She cared for her mother for years before her death in 2010, and was a welcome caregiver to her granddaughters for many years.

Gloria was no stranger to putting in a full day of hard work, whether it was working at home in the yard or at her parent's home.  She loved to garden and enjoyed canning her produce.  She was also the family cake decorator; if you asked for something specific, she would figure it out.  Gloria also loved to travel to spend time with her family; she and Richard were able to travel to Italy multiple times to see their grandchildren.  In her eyes, seeing things like the Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, and the Coliseum were wonderful, but seeing them thru the eyes of her children and grandchildren was just as amazing.  Gloria was excited to welcome her "Bonus" grandchildren later in their lives and made many special memories with them.

Gloria grew up attending Emmanuel Baptist Church until her health made it difficult to attend in person.  She was a member of the Contemporary Circle, the COGS group, and served for many years as a Deaconess.  God was the cornerstone of her life, followed by Richard and her daughters.  Gloria loved to collect Nativity scenes; she bought or was gifted over 100 of them both big and small from all over the world.  She was a faithful servant to God, a Prayer Warrior, and a Shining Light to inspire anyone in her path.

On the corner of their home sits a lighthouse that over the years has been a bright symbol of her ability to shine her light and the Light of God on all those around her.  It might have been a neighbor, friend of her children and grandchildren that just needed an ear to listen or words of encouragement for the situation they were facing.  Each time, Gloria would reassure them that she would put them on her Prayer list and witness to them thru love and compassion.

Love and compassion were returned to Gloria with the care she was provided from the Avera Hospice Team.  There are truly not enough words to express how she and her family were blessed by each member of the team who assisted in her care over the last 3 years.

Gloria is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 57 years, Richard Rose; daughters, Cindy (Dan) Van't Hof, Shelly (Steve) Stutson, Kim (Pat) Gardner all of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Bridget Van't Hof, Breanna (Austin) Peterson, Daniel (Nicole) Bauer, Sandra (Lee) Clemens, Summer (Matt) Hessamfar, Tayler (Ryan Lutz) Gardner, Kassandra Gardner; great-grandchildren, Aiyanna, Alina, Mila, Eva, Luca, Jackson, and Baby Boy Clemens in December;  and by siblings, Judy Clay (Stockton, CA), Wayne (Linda) Bradley (Topeka, KS), David (RoxieAnn) Bradley (Otsego,MN); along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends too numerous to count.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials can be directed to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gloria's name.

Due to Covid-19 the family requests that guests wear a mask and practice social distancing at both opportunities to celebrate Gloria's life.

Come meet with Gloria's family from 5:30 – 7:30 pm on Friday September 25, 2020 at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Avenue.

A service to celebrate Gloria's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday September 26, 2020 at Emmanuel Baptist Church 1600 E 12th Street Sioux Falls, SD.  Committal will follow the service at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.