HOT SPRINGS – Gladys Pullins, aka Mrs. Claus, has been hearing children’s Christmas wishes and Christmas dreams for the past 48 years and shows no sign of slowing down.
“I am now seeing fourth generation kids from those who I have taught to their grand kids,” said Pullins. “I absolutely love the kids; they are so sweet and so innocent and sincere, and they all believe.”
Pullins was born Gladys Packer in a hospital in Belle Fourche in 1927 to a Perkins County farming family.
“I loved the farm,” she recalled. “I was the oldest of four and I had to help my mom in the house. I helped with the babies, I had three younger siblings, and I learned to cook and sew.”
Her memories of life on the farm were that it was a happy time.
“I loved living on the farm with all the animals, we were so free to do what we wanted to do,” she said.
With one exception, the children were not allowed to ice skate on frozen ponds. Her mother had a fear of water and forbade it.
Pullins was allowed to attend school as soon as her younger sister, 18 months younger, was of age so they could go together. Because of that, Pullins was the oldest in the class and a couple grades behind children her age.
They attended a country school about four miles from the farm and either rode their horses or their father took them.
“He would take us in a wagon drawn by horses or on a sled,” she recalled.
In that one-room schoolhouse, she developed her love of reading, which played into her life choices as she got older.
She also, unknowingly, met the future love of her life, Dale Pullins.
“He moved to our school when he was in sixth grade and I was in second,” she recalled. “He was a big boy, and he was the oldest boy. He picked on me a lot; I didn’t really care for him at that age. But he changed later,” she smiled at the memory.
She attended high school in Belle Fouche and then in Sturgis where she lived with her grandfather as his health was failing and the family needed a roof over their heads.
“I didn’t know we were poor until high school,” she said. “I thought we had the world by the tail.”
But Dale didn’t see a poor girl, he
MRS. CLAUS, page A7 saw a girl he loved and the two started going out in high school.
After completing high school, she attended one summer at Black Hills College and earned her certificate to teach first grade.
“I went to work as a teacher that fall,” she said. “I was 19.”
While working as a teacher in Marine, SD, between Faith and Newell, she boarded with one of the parents of the students.
While Gladys taught, Dale served his country in Italy during WWII, returning three years later and marrying Gladys in a small ceremony on July 19, 1947.
“He told me he loved me since the first time he saw me in 2nd grade,” smiled Pullins.
Dale continued his education utilizing the GI bill and received his degree in industrial arts. He used that degree to also teach for a total of eight years, with the last four in Wasta as principal. They moved to Hot Springs in 1959 where he began a career at the VA Medical Center in the recreation department and retired as the Chief of Voluntary Services after 30 years. He passed away in 2008.
While life was joyous for the couple, there was one heartbreaking issue – they were unable to conceive.
“I had a wonderful husband,” she said. “I couldn’t have children, but we had love to share,” she said.
“All of our children were our chosen children,” she said. “Bill, Cindy, Jeff, Darla. All little ones, from 11 days to 5 months and we love them all so much.”
While Pullins took a little time off to raise her children, she was back teaching in 1978 at Hot Springs preschool.
This is where Mrs. Claus was born.
“My neighbor had recently visited Germany and so loved the German Christmas with Mrs. Claus that she wanted to create that in Hot Springs and asked me if I would be Mrs. Claus for Christmas in the Hills, I agreed.”
Coming up with an outfit was a bit of a challenge.
“I had no outfit, but I made myself a jacket and a long skirt, yet decided after a couple years that I didn’t really look like Mrs. Claus, so I made the dress and apron that I still wear today.”
The first scheduled event, planned for outside with booths and all, was snowed out with 15-inches of snow. The event was moved to the City Auditorium, which was next to where the Sheriff Department is today. The snow didn’t slow down the town as many came to join in the festivities.
“Jim Walter was my first Santa Claus, and we had so much fun.”
In the last 48 years, Pullins has had 10 different Santas.
“I was so happy Marshall White was back this year, I just think he’s so good. He even came to Pine Hills and walked around to all the residents and gave them cookies and candy canes.”
Being Mrs. Claus has allowed Pullins to hear some children’s deepest wishes, some sad and some silly.
“One boy just wanted his daddy home for Christmas,” she said. “He was in the military overseas.”
“But I remember one boy asking for a string so he could play with his cat,” she laughed. “That’s it; just a string.”
As Mrs. Claus, she is often asked if she is real.
“I just ask them back, ‘Do you think I am?’ They always say ‘yes’.”
While the 46-year-old dress, sewn with love, shows a small bit of wear, Pullins cares for it gently after each Christmas and stores it away until it is called into action once again.
“I will do this as long as I can walk and talk,” she said with a smile. “I am 98 and hope to make it two more years, that’s my goal.”
While not portraying Mrs. Claus, Pullins enjoys hand quilting, baking and cooking.
“My son comes every day and helps me bake,” she said of her son Bill Pullins of Hot Springs.
He had come that day too with a bag in hand. When asked if it was ingredients to bake with, he replied, rather sheepishly, “It’s a container to take some cookies home”.
A testament to Mrs. Claus’s baking skills.
After 98 years of life, Pullins has a few gems of wisdom for the youth of today.
“Be yourself, get a good education and always believe in Santa.”