Sid Glanzer, age 89, of Columbus, Montana and formerly of Huron, died Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Columbus. His funeral service was held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 8th at the First United Methodist Church, Huron. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in Columbus, Montana at a later date. Memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran, Absarokee, MT or to an organization of your choice.
Sid Glanzer was born April 30, 1927 in Huron, SD, to Samuel P. "Doc" and Stella J. (Miller) Glanzer. Sid received his education in Huron and graduated from Huron High School in 1945. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and sang tenor in the choir. Sid was a long time member of the Kiwanis Club. He was a portrait photographer, and owned and operated the Sid Glanzer Studio.
He married Norine Gohring of Wessington, SD in 1952, she died of arthritis in 1972. They had two daughters.
Sid was briefly married to Florine Dickerson of Sioux Falls, SD
Sid did his own thinking and had a very successful, interesting life. It was on his Evening Huronite paper route #10 in Huron that he befriended Ralph Huddleston whose hobby was cameras. Sid immediately devoured this interest in photography and instantly made it his profession. He had a successful photography profession for 38 years.
Sid's most famous acquaintance from South Dakota was the rodeo star, Casey Tibbs. On a very hot July 4th day in 1943, Sid had just taken the first action shot of Casey's bucking horse ride. Casey told Sid to keep the negative in a lock box in Huron because it was so special. At the time, Casey was 14 and Sid was 16.
Sid knew the secret of business and loved his world of photography with a passion, saying that he "never worked a day in his life."
Sid predicted the future, as he sensed that a women's movement was coming shortly. What Sid said in 1945 came to fruition when the movement actually came about in 1960. He changed his specialty to excelling in portraits of women, never having to spend a dime on advertising. In his lifetime he photographed thousands of women. Sid never bragged; he preferred to be a quiet success.
Sid was also chief photographer for Northwest Public Service in Huron for 30 years. He became the chief photographer for the Fawcett brothers' hunting lodge in Wolsey for 28 years.
After meeting the world famous motivational speaker, George W. Walter, Sid produced all of his publicity photographs for ten years. Mr. Walter remarked to Sid: "You see with different eyes."
In 1955 Sid was thrilled to have a 15 minute private interview with then ex-president Harry S. Truman who was visiting Humphry Drug Store in Huron. Mr. Truman's comment became Sid's lifetime motto: "Independent thinking produces maximum results."
Sid met many public celebrities as their careers were beginning. A pretty eleven year old girl posed for him during her school years. Later this young woman became successfully known as Cheryl Ladd. His stunning profile glamour portrait of Bonnie Engbretson Sheridan won so many 1st place prizes that he was politely told to let others have a chance of winning at various photography conventions.
Sid reached his goal of retirement at age 50, to devote more time to his creative ideas. After brain surgery in 1980 for hydro-cephalous, his IQ score soared to 140, and innovative ideas came more frequently. Sid possessed a photographic memory and was eternally optimistic. In 1981 Sid met Effie Bell Pugsley who became a great friend for many years, traveling the world together.
One story which was very significant to Sid occurred in 1945. Sid considered this "a very sad day in Huron." Nevin Jackson, manager of the Marvin Hughitt Hotel, refused to give a room to the very gifted black soloist, Marion Anderson. Marion subsequently received a very warm invitation to spend the night at the home of a lovely black lady named Hazel Mahone.
Sid was always receptive to good advice, including comments by people on his childhood paper route. One customer said, "Only a fool gambles what he is not prepared to lose." Another one gave Sid one word to follow, "Soot," which meant "Stay out of trouble!" This is what he did all his life!
Sid's healthy lifestyle included no cigarettes, no hard liquor, and no hard drugs since he was 12. This pleased and shocked many doctors!
Sid was encouraged to move to Absarokee, Montana about ten years ago, where his daughter, Robin and her husband, Richard Davis resides along with their two sons, Lee and Kyle.
He became a beloved and active member of Immanuel Lutheran (ELCA) Church where he loved to sing and enjoy fellowship. He then was moved to an assisted living residence in nearby Columbus.
Sid was preceded in death by his wife, Norine; infant twin grandsons, Andrew Richard and Issac Richard Davis; his parents; oldest daughter, Dawn Glanzer; mother-in-law, Ellen E. Gohring; brother-in-law, Mitch Rukavina; and special friend, Effie Pugsley.
He is survived by his sister, Ramona (Boyd) Bywater of Portland, Oregon; three nephews, Rick (Laurie) Bywater of Olathe, Kansas, Mark (Janelle) Bywater of Tualatin, Oregon and Jody (Cheri) Bywater of Tenino, Washington; his half-brother, Harlan (Martha) Waldner of Utah; his sister-in-law, Norma Rukavina of Kenosha, Wisconsin; two nephews, Gene (Gibralta) Rukavina of Valley Village, California and Rex (Karen) Rukavina of Racine, Wisconsin; and Effie Pugsley's four daughters, Karen, Gwen, Val and Elaine and their families.