Glenna Mae (Galliart) Ritchie passed to her heavenly home surrounded by family on May 23, 2026.
Born to Edward and Oma Galliart on Feb. 17, 1951, she was a resident of Great Bend where she met and married John Welch. She was widowed after a brief marriage. She later met and married William (Buff) Ritchie in 1972 and began her life of travel. Moving to the east coast in 1978 it would be many years before she would return to Great Bend, her beloved home. While on the east coast she began her lifelong dream of nursing, first becoming a CNA where she specialized in geriatric memory care. It was her calling she would say to take care of people with love and respect in their final years. Later, as she achieved her LPN she would move into the emergency room at the hospital in Burgaw N.C. She excelled in the fast-paced environment but ultimately decided to return to geriatric care. After several years of nursing raising two girls and grandchildren added to the growing family William retired and they returned to her hometown of Great Bend, where she worked with Ellinwood hospital for a few years before finally getting her dream job at the Dominican Sisters taking care of the aging sisters. This would be her retirement job, and she loved every moment of it, calling it a blessing to take care of the sisters.
Glenna loved to spend time with her family and friends, she enjoyed traveling and seeing the world. She loved her girls fiercely and bragged on her grandchildren almost daily, when she started having great grands, she would find a new level of love for them spoiling them and just enjoying every moment spent with them. She was a fantastic cook, she crafted and sewed with ease, she would lend a helping hand anywhere she was needed. She laughed often, and with her warm and caring spirit she would draw in lifelong friends, no matter what state or city she lived in. Glenna left a mark in this world, of kindness, goodness, and caring.
She is proceeded in death by her parents; three brothers, Dennis Galliart, Edward Galliart (Jr) and Tom Reddinger; her ex-husband but lifelong companion William Ritchie; and several brother and sisters-in-law. She is survived by her daughters Amanda (Ami Lou) Ritchie of Great Bend, Jennifer Best (Blaney) of Albert; and a stepson William Greathouse (Danniel) of Ruskin Florida; her grandchildren Kayla Baxley (Zakk) of Great Bend, Nattally Croom (Tyler) of Castle Hayne N.C. and Blaney (Bubba) Best of Albert, Kan.; and her precious great-grandchildren Leightinn Mae, Adalinn Ora Marie, Sadie Ruth, and Mason Tyler; several in-laws; nieces; nephews; cousins; and extended family members.
A remembrance of life will take place June 4, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. at The Gathering Place, 1037 Sheridan Dr, Suite C, Great Bend, Ks 67530.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 4, 2026
