Gail Lou Quincy BlackCloud

Gail Lou Quincy Black Cloud (Knights) was born August 17, 1940, in Norfolk, VA and began her journey home on July 10, 2021. Per her request we will only be having funeral service at Gilbertson’s Funeral Home followed by Graveside Service at St Jerome’s Cemetery, Crowhill, ND.

Gail was born deaf so her pediatrician at the time suggested a dryer climate to help alleviate the fluid in her ears, so she moved to Tucson, AZ, where she was raised by her grandmother. She relocated to San Bernardino, CA, where she graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1957. She attended San Bernardino Valley College, where she received her associates degree in Communications.

Gail joined the Navy in 1959 and after completing boot camp was stationed at North Island Navel Base in San Diego, CA, where she met the love of her life, Ivan Francis Black Cloud. They were married on March 9, 1960 and had 5 children together. Mark (1961), Dana (1962), Matthew (1964), Frank (1965) and Glenn (1966). During this time, the Navy had relieved her of her duty, as it was back in those days when a woman got pregnant, so she relocated to Rialto, CA to be closer to her mom and stepfather while Ivan was out to sea during the Vietnam War. Gail and Ivan separated in 1968 and divorced in 1970.

Gail had 5 kids to raise so took a job at Pacific Telephone as a Switchboard Operator. Using her skills, she gained in the military, she moved quickly up the ranks with the phone company. She held many positions from switchboard to lineman and finally to radio and telecommunications technician when she finally retired.

Being the only parent, Gail was both mother and father to her kids, whom she adored, even though they drove her crazy at times. She was a baseball coach and manager, a soccer coach, a friend, and confidant when needed. She was also their biggest fan, never missing a game and always the loudest in the crowd.

She relocated to ND in 2003 to be closer to her sons. Bought a ranch, which was her dream home, and settled there finally. She took up part time work at Paul’s Gas Station in Ft Totten and the Spirit Lake Casino, where she worked as a surveillance officer before finally retiring in 2014. She lived a full life filled with happiness and love. She is survived by 29 grand children and 27 great grandchildren.