Gloria Ann (Knutson) Stroud, 86, was born on November 23, 1939, in Canton, South Dakota. She died on February 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri, from complications following a heart procedure.
Gloria grew up on the 160-acre farm homesteaded by her Norwegian immigrant grandparents, where she learned to love all animals, especially her horses and kitties. She attended a one-room country school through 8th grade, and she graduated from Canton High School.
She was married soon after high school and her son, Keith Neugebauer, was born on December 23, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. After parting ways with her first husband in Belvidere, Illinois in 1965, Gloria found work with a veterinarian, and she met the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Stroud, at a horse show. They were married on May 28, 1966.
Together Gloria and Chuck began breeding, training, and showing Arabian horses. She studied for more than 10 years to become a certified Arabian horse show judge. This career enabled her to travel the world, judging prestigious shows like the U.S. National Arabian Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky, going twice to judge in Brazil, and taking a once-in-a-lifetime two-week trip to judge in South Africa that included a safari to see the wild animals of Africa up-close.
Over many years, the “Char-Glo” business developed and sold multiple farms and ranches, working to leave each property better than when they bought it, and investing the profits in their next venture. They were fortunate to have worked with some wonderful clients, many of whom became friends.
From their Illinois farm they moved to Colorado where they raised Arabian horses and Texas Longhorn cattle and traveled across the U.S. showing horses. Next, they moved to Wheatland, Wyoming, and then to Valentine, Nebraska, where they raised Angus cattle; this is where a cow crushed Gloria’s ankle in 2001, leading to a rare ankle replacement surgery 20 years later.
Gloria and Chuck moved to Missouri in 2001, where they raised Angus cattle until retiring from livestock several years ago. Through their nearly 60-year marriage, Gloria and Chuck worked together as a team, always by each other’s sides.
Gloria was heartbroken when her son, Keith, died unexpectedly in 2008 at age 50.
Gloria remained active in the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and served on the Dallas County Cattlemen’s Association board. A lifelong learner, she took art classes and joined a local gardening group. She loved visiting the ranch of the “Pioneer Woman,” Ree Drummond, in Oklahoma, and she was thrilled to meet her in person on one of her trips.
Gloria traveled with Chuck to Alaska, and with her niece, Joy (Knutson) Klitzke to a family reunion in Norway in 2019 that included more than 200 of her father’s relatives.
Most of all, Gloria had an enduring fondness for all animals; she loved taking care of every cat that wandered into her backyard right up to the time of her recent heart surgeries.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Verda (Nelson) Knutson, her son, Keith Neugebauer, and a brother-in-law, Earl Stroud.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Charles Stroud, her brother, James (Marlys) Knutson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, her sister, Lana Bartling of Louisburg, Missouri, sisters-in-law, Erma Stroud of New Orleans, Louisiana, Beverly Stroud of Lexington, Kentucky, and Mildred Dittbenner of Friendship, Wisconsin, along with many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 16 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Reser Funeral Home, 101 West Main Street in Warsaw, Missouri, with interment taking place at a future date in Canton, South Dakota. Memorials may be directed to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield.
