Gloria Ripley, 87, of Spearfish, SD passed away at her home in Spearfish on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Gloria Leona Schmeltzer Ripley was born at home in Lead, SD on June 26, 1931, to Esther Emma Schaumann and Louis Domonic Schmeltzer. She was the youngest of three children. The family moved to Spearfish, SD in 1940. Two more children joined the family.

Gloria graduated from Spearfish High School in 1949. She attended Black Hills Teacher College that fall and taught school in Farrell, WY the following year. She met her husband, Owen Ripley in college and they married in August of 1956.  To this union they had four children. She taught school in Farrell, WY, Tilford, SD, Deadwood, SD, Oilmont, MT and Hardin, MT a total of 29 years.

Her most important job was raising her family. Her interests were gardening and quilting.

She is survived by her children, Becky (John) Maetzold, Jordan, MT, Rick Ripley, Spearfish, Alan (Kelly) Ripley, Bozeman, MT and Rhonda (Craig) Shores, Panama City, FL; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brother, Louis (Signe) Schmeltzer and sister, Barbara (Raymond) Garness. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Owen; her parents; sister, Rosella Worth and brother, Dick Schmeltzer.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com