Funeral services for Gladys White Shield, age 69, of McLaughlin will be at 2 PM CT, Friday, May 13, 2011 at Messiah Congregational Church in Little Oak Creek. Burial will be in the White Shield Family Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Evening services will be from 5 to 9 PM, Thursday at the McLaughlin Blue Gym. Gladys passed away on Friday, May 6, 2011 at her home in McLaughlin.

Gladys Joan White Shield was born September 29, 1941 to Joshua White Shield and the late Helen Iron in Little Oak Creek, SD. Gladys attended the Little Eagle Day School and the Fort Yates Boarding School. She then attended the Nursing School in Los Angeles, CA. Following nursing school she returned home to care for her mother. After the passing of her mother, Gladys made her home in McLaughlin, where she worked in various areas.

Some of Gladys's greatest passions were sewing, cooking, educating children in Sunday School and working with the ladies Auxiliary with the Messiah Congregational Church. Gladys dedicated most of her life helping and teaching her family and friends. She not only opened her home but also her heart to anyone in need. She would offer a lending hand without criticism or judgment. Gladys was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, and a friend. She valued life, all mankind including all her pets.

Gladys was preceded in death by her father, Joshua White Shield; mother, Helen Iron; sisters, Lottie White Shield, Phoebe Long Elk, Mary Helen Erhardt; brothers, Melvin White Shield, Stanley White Shield, Warren White Shield, Larry Hayes, Jerry Weasel, Oris Weasel, Leonard Weasel; son, Clyde White Shield and special grandson, Dustin Wilkinson.

Gladys is survived by her daughters, Mavis (Tony) Huber, Janet White Shield, LeAnne White Shield Haugen, Linda White Shield Hernandez; son, Mitchell (Mona) Franklin; granddaughters, Gorginana Herpple and Dessi Franklin; Grandsons, Isiah and Arron Franklin, Meredith Haugen, Mathew Huber, and Kellen Peniska; sisters, Delilah White Shield, Donna Red Legs, Rita Iron Cloud, and Mazie (Vern) Shelton; brother, Tom Iron and special sister-in-law, Shirley White Buffalo.

Casketbearers will be Trini Bird Necklace, Taten Cross Bear, Michael Geigle, Tracy High Elk, Jason Weasel, Clay Byington, William Iron Cloud, Skyler White Shield, Bronson Spotted Horse.

Honorary bearers are Fort Yates Dialysis Nurses and Staff, Marie Brave Crow and Family, Diane Brown Otter and Family, Henrietta Bobtail Bear and Family, Tracy and Ann Vermillion, Sam and Annabelle Mortenson, Dollie Byington and Family, Majel Del Rio and Family, Hazel Miller and Family, Mona Dunsmore and Family, Deloris High Elk and Family, Myra Bendickson and Family, Tony and Florenstine Bobtail Bear and Family, Melinda Geigle and Family, Ruby White Shield and Family, Gary Weasel and Family, LeRoy Weasel and Family, Illa Weasel and Family, Dale Weasel and Family, Gayle Weasel and Family, Kim Weasel and Family, Clint and Valerie Walker and Family, Kevin and Tootie Jamerson, Lovey Jamerson, Darmalee Long Elk and Family, Doug and Toni Wilkinson and Family, McLaughlin Elderly Nutrition Program, Maureen Walter, Kathy Kuzior, Toni Eagle Shield (C.H.R.), Evelynn Uses Arrow, Bernice Sitting Dog, James Beings Horse, Isabelle Crow Feather, Jaime Wilkinson, Janel Jamerson, Shannon Jamerson, Marilyn White Shield, Andrea Talese, Betty Weasel, Blanche Lawrence, Lenora Iron Cloud, Camille Martell, Julie Weasel and Family, Billi Jamerson, and Bobbie Jamerson, We Have So Many Family Members and Friends, We Apologize If We Have Forgotten Anyone