Gladys Thumser

Biography

Gladys Alberta Thumser died Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was 93 years old.

Gladys was born December 21, 1915 to Clemet and Eliza (Dewey) Fleming at Brush, Colorado. She was the third of five girls.

Her family moved to Trenton when she was four years old and her mother died when Gladys was only ten years old. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1933.

She began her teaching career in the days when all high schools had Normal Training classes and she attended those classes at Trenton High School. Her first teaching job was in 1933, at District 53 located south of Culbertson, where she had 12 Kindergarten through eighth grade students all in one room. She taught there for three years until her three-year certificate ran out.

On July 3, 1936 at Loup City, Nebraska she married Edward A. Thumser, who worked for the railroad. Gladys attended Kearney State during the summer to get her certificate renewed. For the next two years she taught in District 71 and they raised her monthly salary to $50 which was a fabulous sum in those times. After teaching at couple of other districts (21 & 6), she taught Junior High in Trenton for three years. For the next ten years she gave up teaching when she and Eddie moved to Holbrook and then out to Washington State where Eddie worked at a timber factory.

When they moved back to the farm south of Culbertson, she enrolled in McCook Junior College in 1955 and then went to Kearney State and in 1963 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with a major in elementary education. Returning to the Trenton Schools she then taught in the lower grades (mostly first grade) until her retirement in 1978. She taught the youth of Hitchcock County for a total of 31 years. She did, however, continue to do some substituting for a few years after retirement.

She and Eddie moved from the farm into Trenton in the early 70's and he died in August of 1974. She continued to live in Trenton until August of 1997 when she moved to Highland Park Retirement Community in McCook. She has lived at Hillcrest Nursing Home since August of 2004.

Gladys was a member of the Trenton Church of God and after moving to McCook, she transferred her membership to McCook Christian Church. She was also a member of the Retired Teachers. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, bingo, reading.

All of her life she has been a devoted Christian and prayer warrior for her family and those in need. She especially enjoyed spiritual activities at Highland Park and Hillcrest. Listening to Christian music was a real comfort for her, and she sang many hymns and choruses throughout the days she spent at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior and He has always been a priority in her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Eliza; husband, Edward, August 11, 1974; three sisters, Alice Brott, Neva Myers, and Beulah "Boots" Jenkins; nieces, Bonnie Pierce, Betty O'Brien, Violet Neary; and great nephew, Jeffrey Myers.

Survivors include: sister, Viela June Eskew of McCook; nieces and nephews Richard and Jolene Myers of Boulder, CO, Cheri and Jerry Beckenhauer of McCook, Steven Myers of Boston, MA, Kay Eskew of Falls Church, VA, Neva June Beaver of Mexico, MO, Vera Ferne & Clyde Johnson of Killen, TX, and Duane Fleming Brott of Chico, CA; great nieces and nephews, Bob & Monica Myers of Madison, WI , Brock Myers of Longmont, CO, Scott & Michalene Beckenhauer of Bellevue, Lynette & Mike Holloway of Papillion, Lisa and Daniel Pomajzl of Seward; great-great nieces and nephews, Dane, Hannah, Natalie, Mackenzee, Josiah, Christian, Regan, Brooklynn and Grant.

Memorials were to be given in her name to the Trenton Church of God or McCook Christian Church.

Funeral services were Saturday, March 14, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with Jerry Beckenhauer officiating. Burial took place in the Trenton Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook was in charge of the arrangements.