Gladys C. Breidenbach Coe of Sturgis, SD, died Sunday, August 2, 2009, after a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Going home services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 10, 2009, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

Gladys was born in Greencastle, IN, February 1, 1917, to Grover C. and Nellie Breidenbach who raised her on a homestead in Perkins County near Zeona, SD. She attended Spring Creek Grade School, Bison High School and earned a teaching certificate from Black Hills Teachers College. Gladys taught grade school at Meadow and Strool, SD. She married Gail Coe June 5, 1939, and raised 2 children, Rose Ella and Gary. Gladys co-labored with the love of her life, Gail, and celebrated 70 years of marriage, June 5 of this year. Together they farmed, ranched and operated a trucking and livestock feed business in Perkins County until retirement in the late 70's. Gladys loved nature and was a true "prairie girl" who saw beauty in life's simple things as God made them.

Gladys was a true pioneer with her knowledge and use of land management. She not only planted trees everywhere she lived, she also practiced using organic principles in her gardening and land beautification. Her love for birds was evident in her latter years as she was able to devote more time to watching and identifying all kinds of birds native to South Dakota. Gladys exhibited a keen sense of wisdom along with a sense of humor throughout her entire life. She had a philosophic approach to life and great insight into her friends. She shared this rare gift in the form of poetry. She became the poet laureate not only for her family, but for all of her neighbors and friends as she was able to relate life histories and events through the many poems she wrote. Gladys will be forever remembered and appreciated through this legacy.

Survivors include her husband, Gail Coe, Sturgis; daughter, Rose Ella (David) Roach, Kapaa, Hawaii; son, Gary (Sandee Hill) Coe, Bozeman, MT; six grandchildren, John (Kathy) Roach, Paul (Shannon) Roach, Tara (Peter) Premenko, Tracey (Brian) Sears, Ryan (Josh) Ray, and Josh (Kim) Coe; eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Nellie Breidenbach; sisters, Gertrice Hinds and Glenda Hinds; and brothers, Grover C. (Brownie), Jacob, and Charles Breidenbach.

A memorial has been established to Hospice of the Northern Hills.