Gloria A. Mason

Gloria Ann Tietjen was born on 11/11/1939 to Theodore O. and Lily Schleifer Tietjen, the 3rd of three children, on the family farm. She was raised in Thayer county and attended the Cracker Box one room schoolhouse and then Chester High School, graduating in 1957. Her parents were strong German Lutherans and she was raised accordingly. She furthered her schooling at UNL earning her teaching degree in 1961. She met the love of her life at a dance in Bruning, Nebraska, Rick Mason, and they married on July 21,1962 at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in rural Thayer County. To this union were born 3 children, Beth Ann, Angela June, and Thomas Richard. She began her teaching career in Omaha and taught at Western Hills elementary for one year, then started at Gretna Public Schools in 1962. She taught 3rd and 4th grade off and on for 30 years, taking a few years off to raise the kids after Tom was born. She was involved in coaching girls track and girls volleyball early in her career. She also began the annual track and field day which was the highlight of many of the elementary students’ year. She loved teaching as it was her true calling. She and Rick did almost everything together including many years of bowling, softball, volleyball, bridge, golf and loved attending their children’s and grand children’s events. They also enjoyed gambling at Ameristar regularly. Gloria even won a Mercedes Benz in 2015. She always had the luck. Unfortunately, that luck ran out in 2019 when she was diagnosed with ALS. She passed peacefully with family surrounding her on 7/30/2020. We are so blessed to have had Gloria as our wife and mother. She was our rock and our role model. She was preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Lily Tietjen, and sister Gladys Tietjen. Survivors include husband, Rick of 58 years, daughters Dr. Beth Ernst of Kearney, Angie Templeton of Omaha, and son Tom Mason of Gretna, grandchildren Michael and Megan Ernst of Kearney, Zachary and Jessica Templeton of Omaha, and Caden, Quinn, Josie, and Halle Mason of Gretna, brother Ted Tietjen of Grant, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation Monday August 3rd 5 - 7 PM at Roeder Mortuary. Funeral Service Tuesday August 4th 10:30 AM at Resurrection Lutheran Church 153 S. McKenna Ave. Gretna. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials to Resurrection Lutheran Church or ALS Foundation of the Heartland. Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone - Gretna, NE - 402-332-0090 www.RoederMortuary.com