Gloria Jean Gunnare, 75, from Sun City West, Arizona entered eternal life on March 2, 2019.  A local memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, April 26, 2019 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Beresford, SD.

Gloria was born in Yankton, SD on March 5, 1943 to parents Donald and Elaine Merriman. She graduated from Beresford High School in 1961 and attended Nettleton Business College. She married Clifford Gunnare on February 29th, 1964. They lived in Sioux Falls for two years, where she was secretary for an orthodontics office. They moved to Saint Cloud, MN and she worked as a secretary at a beauty college. When they moved to Beresford, SD in 1968, she worked for Miller Law Firm and Merriman Drilling company. In 1981 she and Cliff started C&G Consulting.

Gloria was currently serving on the church council of Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Sun City West, AZ). Throughout her life she was active in Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Zymurgy Club - a beer and wine craft club, Rip and Sew Club, women's club, ladies' auxiliary and many more organizations and activities. She was also a member of the Elk's Club and lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary. She was active in the Beresford Country Club, both golfing and playing bridge

Gloria enjoyed entertaining, spending time with family or friends, and traveling. She never turned down an opportunity for an adventure and her travels took her to visit her family in Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, Hawaii and Florida. Gloria also took trips to New York, Mexico, Dubai, Germany, England and more! All you had to say was "Is anyone interested in a cruise?" and she was ready to go!!! She loved to cook and was, by far, one of the best. Gloria enjoyed every moment spent with her family. She was always up for a golf match or a game of cards or dice. You just needed to remember to bring your quarters!

Gloria is preceded in death by her husband Clifford Gunnare, parents Donald and Elaine Merriman, father and mother in-law Bertil and Erna Gunnare, brother Geoffrey Merriman, sister-in-law Kathie Gunnare, brother-in-law Wesley Gunnare, niece Anne Gunnare, and great nephew Joshua Merriman. She is survived by her three children; Mike (Caren; Nicholas & Jessica) of Highlands Ranch, CO, Chris (Denise; Chrystina, Caitlyn & Dylan) of Urbandale, IA, and Rob (Tracee; Makayla, Brooklyn, Kaden & Kennedy) of Shakopee, MN. Also surviving are her siblings; Gayle (Bob) White, Dale(Judi) Merriman, Larry (Marty) Merriman, Lonnie (Linda) Merriman, Shary Merriman, Penny (Brian) Lansdowne, and her five godchildren Kendall Strand, Cosette (White) Pease, Aaron Gunnare, Clara Merriman, and Drew Merriman. She also has many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends too numerous to list, but not forgotten.