Gladys “Glady” Celesta Pearce passed away on Nov. 16, 2017 at the age of 87 in Helena, MT. She went to join her Lord, family and friends who welcomed her. She died from congestive heart disease.
Gladys was born in Minot to Hilda and Elmer Larson and spent her early years in DesLacs, ND. She graduated from Minot State College. Her first teaching position was in Riverdale, ND. She then taught at Brize Norton AFB in England, where she was able to do extensive traveling. She was a parish worker in Scobey, MT before coming to Helena in the summer of 1958.
Gladys married her love, Ernest “Dick” Pearce, on July 1, 1960. They shared many happy years until his death in 2007.
She is survived by her sister and spouse, Inez and Maynard Tingelstad, and brother and spouse, Ernie “Butch” and Ceil Larson. Gladys is also survived by her nieces and nephews – all were very special to her and her to them. Also surviving Gladys are Nate Heinitz and his family. Nate developed a special relationship with Gladys over the last several years; she considered him to be a grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Hilda Larson, a sister and husband, Alice and Herb Kringen, and Dick’s sister and husband Doris and Robert Homan.
Gladys taught elementary school in the Helena School District from 1958 – 1991. She loved to teach. She was very active in Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and has always felt very welcome there. She has belonged to Valley View Evangelical Lutheran Church since 2011; she had a special relationship with her church family. Gardening was Gladys’s therapy and had a special talent in her artistic capabilities.
Gladys will be sadly missed by her family and dear friends. We will all remember her wonderful smile.
Viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21st at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. in Helena. A funeral service will follow at 10:00 at the funeral home with a reception to follow in the social hall. Following the reception, burial will be at Montana State Veterans Cemetery where Gladys will be laid to rest with her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Gladys are suggested to Valley View Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3000 N. Benton Ave, Helena, MT 59601 or the charity of donor’s choosing. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Gladys.
Service Schedule
Viewing
9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montan Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Tuesday November 21, 2017
In the social hall of the funeral home
,
Service Schedule
Viewing
9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montan Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Tuesday November 21, 2017
In the social hall of the funeral home
,
Share
Tom Naegele says
Family & Friend’s of Gladys,
A Good and Faithful Spirit is now in Heaven. At Our Redeemers Lutheran Church is where Gladys entered my life. Playing the organ & teaching Sunday School. Supportive Prayers to all.
Nathan H says
Grateful for our friendship with Gladys. She was like a grandmother to our children. Our best memories include Gladys and ice cream 🙂 Love to the family ❤️
Rosemary Trusler says
Gladys was love. She loved God, Dick, her family, friends and students. It was delightful to spend time with her. She was kind and gracious. Gladys will be missed by the many whose lives were touch by her. Love you, Gladie❤️
Cindy Asebedo says
Another angel is in heaven. You will be dearly missed until our chain links again.
Inez Tingelstad says
Maynard and Inez
Gladys was our dear sister – the catalyst of the family after our Mom passed away. We love her and will miss her. She was a person who loved and made beautiful things. God bless her memory.
Curt Synness says
Mrs. Pearce was my third grade teacher at Lincoln School. Will never forget her loving, patient, sweet spirit.
Donna (Jackson) Turcott says
Gladys was a dear, sweet, helpful person who was there for me in my first years of teaching. She was an exemplary educator with a big smile and a hard-working disposition. She was a team player. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
Karen McMillan says
Gladys was my third grade teacher at Lincoln School. All the kids in the class loved her. She was so kind and supportive of all her students. She always played the piano at our Christmas programs. I was always in awe of her playing. And, as she was playing, she had a smile on her face the entire time!
Whenever I saw her, she always had a hug for me and a big smile. What a dear, sweet, lovely lady!
Margaret N. says
Mrs. Pierce was my fifth grade teacher at Smith Elementary. She had the most wonderful sense of humor. She was reading us a story one day and she read the line, “Thar she blows!” At the same time a girl loudly blew her nose. Much to our delight, Mrs. Pierce could not stop laughing. She had tears running down her face and could barely catch her breath. What a wonderful, fun moment this was for us. Mrs. Pierce was an excellent, caring teacher. We all loved her. May she rest in peace.
Elizabeth Miller says
Mrs. Pierce was my third grade teacher at Broadwater Elementary. Such an amazing lady with a huge heart. May she rest in peace.
Ellen McKinley says
Gladys was my wonderful “over the fence” neighbor–we shared a love of all things gardening. I have a plant she gave me a start of that she told me her friend got from the Buchart Gardens. She was a wonderful friend to my daughter Molly, who used to go visit her and help her in her yard.
Connie Cullen Lange, Newcastle, WA says
Mrs. Pearce was my 5th grade teacher at Smith Elementary School. I had been a good student, until I got the flu and missed school for a week in February. My best friend had the flu at the same time, and afterward, we were behind in our schoolwork and chose to play more than catch up! Mrs. Pearce contacted my parents, and by May, gave my dad “the answer books” so he could correct my work at home in the evenings until I caught up. By the end of the year, I had indeed caught up, but my normal high grades had fallen to B’s and C’s. Over the summer, I clearly remember thinking to myself, “Mrs. Pearce must think I’m really dumb! I need to show her that I’m not!” Upon entering 6th grade, I got mostly A’s, and continued as a strong student all the way through high school and college. My need for a respected teacher to know I was capable of more drove me to succeed from then on (although it’s likely she had other students on her mind by then!). A few years ago, I had the pleasure of hosting some of my former teachers at Starbucks for coffee, Mrs. Pearce among them. What a special lady.