Gloria Yvonne Gunderson, 85, of Rapid City, SD, formerly of Parshall, ND, passed away on June 12, 2026, at Monument Health Hospital, Rapid City, SD.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Parshall, ND. Burial will follow at St. Bridget Catholic Cemetery, Parshall, ND.

Wake services will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Red Bear Community Center, with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Vigil Service. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Gloria Yvonne (Foote) Gunderson
Healing Hands
Gicà gihge shaagish
Low Cap Clan
Child of Flint Knife

Gloria was born November 4, 1940, in Elbowoods, ND to James Foote Sr. and Elsie (Fredricks) Foote. Growing up, she enjoyed life in Elbowoods and the Lucky Mound Community. After attending Flandreau and Stephan Boarding Schools, Gloria graduated from high school and began working as a dental assistant in McLaughlin, SD. During this time in South Dakota, she met the love of her life, her soulmate and husband of 58 years, Melford W. Gunderson Sr. To this union was born daughters, Yvette, Camilla, and the late Nicole Jayne, and one son, Melford Jr. “MJ”. Nicole Jayne went to Heaven just a year and a half ago, and what a reunion they must be having.

Mel and Gloria raised their children in the Parshall, ND community for 15 years before relocating to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Well known to her communities as a caring and compassionate nurse, Gloria specialized in many different areas of nursing throughout her career. Her work ranged from high-tech pediatric nursing to addiction recovery nursing, a dedication that later led her to travel all over the United States as a traveling nurse. A wonderful humanitarian, Gloria volunteered her nursing skills at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C., working alongside doctors treating American soldiers coming straight from the war zone.

This humanitarianism and excellent work ethic were deeply instilled in her children and grandchildren. Remembered for her fierce independence, Gloria created a colorful and amazing life for her family and stood as the epitome of family devotion.

Gloria is survived by husband, Melford “Mac”, daughters, Yvette Ward, Camilla Gunderson-Hamlyn; son, Melford Jr. “MJ”; grandchildren, Jordain Ward, Kamron Ward, Sharonne Ward, Richard Maclayne Ward, Nicolette Diamond Ward, Fynn Gunderson, Scout Gunderson, and Elektra Hamlyn; great grandchildren, Princeton Ward and Violette Ward; and brother, Delvin Foote.

She was preceded in death by her precious youngest daughter, Nicole Jayne; her parents, James and Elsie; her siblings, Adriane Foote Sr., Inez Baker, Shirley Myrick, Vera Bracklin, Delores Packineau, James Foote Jr., Charles Foote Sr., and Kaye Driver.

SENIOR PALLBEARER

Nora Packineau