Glorian Blackburn

Glorian Blackburn, 85, of Miller, passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Society of Miller.

Funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 2, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Miller with Pastor Mark Johnsen officiating. Burial was held at Memorial Park Cemetery, Fremont, NE.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, September 1, 2013 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.

Glorian Almira Walter was born August 11, 1928 at the family home in Dodge, NE, the fourth of nine children born to Bessie (Cech) and Joseph Walter.  The family moved near Onawa, Iowa and Glorian graduated from Onawa High School in 1945. 

After high school graduation she worked at the Onawa Bank in Onawa, IA, Back to the Bible in Lincoln, Nebraska and held secretarial and bookkeeper positions in Denver, CO. While in Denver, Glorian roomed at The Heart, a Christian Boarding House. In September 1953 she chose to continue her education and enrolled at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.   She would continue working and her studies at Bob Jones University until she graduated in 1961 with a Major in Elementary Education and an English minor. 

Glorian began her student teaching in South Carolina before returning to Denver, Colorado to teach fourth grade at Shaw Heights Elementary in Westminster, Colorado.  It was during her 3rd year of teaching at Shaw Heights that she met a cattleman from South Dakota named Ronald Blackburn and a long distance courtship began.  On June 11, 1965 Glorian and Ronald were married in Denver, Colorado.  After a wedding trip to the Grand Canyon, the move was made to the family farm near Miller, South Dakota where their union included Ronald’s three children, Ronetta, Royce and Retha.  She also was welcomed into the Gamble family. They joined together as parents and life partners and spent 40 years together before his death on October 18, 2005.  

Glorian continued to teach once she married and moved to South Dakota, teaching 5th grade at the St. Lawrence, SD School.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Miller, served as a Sunday School teacher, held various positions within the church and was a former member of the Lost Creek Stars Extension Club. Glorian was proficient at needlework, enjoyed reading, gardening and traveling.   Glorian and Ronald enjoyed their motor home travels; often including family members to attend graduations, weddings, family and school reunions.    

Glorian said “Children were her favorite people”.  She would remember each of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She could recite names and birth dates of family, neighbors and many friends.  She was always engaging children to be creative and enjoyed all their activities.

Glorian and Ronald shared their Christian faith and were witness for all.   Glorian’s daily devotions and prayers continued even as she faced health challenges – praying “that God’s Will be done”. 

Her legacy of faith, strength and love will continue in those blessed to be a part of her life; including her children: Ronetta Blackburn (Chris) Theodor of Steinhatchee, Florida, Royce (Linda) Blackburn of Miller and Retha (Steve) Thrun of Madison; 8 grandchildren: Teresa Gilk, Jaime Russell, Laura Blackburn, Lucas Blackburn, Mark Thrun, Amy Graff, Jesse Letsche and Teri Dachtler; 14 great-grandchildren: Ethan, Elias and Isaac Gilk, Hunter, Gage and Preslie Russell, Coree, Sierrah and Liam Thrun, Blake and Kiana Whitethorn, Caden Letsche and Hunter and Eli Dachtler; one brother, Walt (Bernice) Walter of Rhododendron, OR; 4 sisters: Dolores Anderson of Stacy, MN, Mary Ann Walter of Avoca, IA, Fran Torrey of Avoca, IA and Sharon (Steve) Legler of Edina, MN; sister-in-law, Wanda (Matt) Segner, Friend, NE; brother-in-law, Larry Nelson, Dresser, WI; Gamble sisters; Anita Morris, Edith Nisick, Darlene McNaughton and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ronald; brothers: Joseph and Richard Walter; sister, Ruth Nelson; sister-in-law, Margaret Ellis; brother-in-law; Larry Torrey; Gamble sisters: Erma Miller, Mildred Steele, Lorraine Todd and grandson, Steven Thrun Jr.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Glorian’s arrangements.