Geraldine Ann Feiden Snyder, 82

Gerry passed away Friday, July 16, 2010, at her residence in Lakeside, of natural causes. She was born on July 9, 1928, in Great Falls, the fourth child of Herman and Esther Feiden, former owners of Herman s Flowers. She attended Great Falls High School, skipping school to ride her horse. Gerry married K. Daniel Snyder in 1946. She took a bus to New York City to start her married life, while Dan worked for the New York Times. They returned to Great Falls. Gerry and Dan moved to Missoula where Dan attended the University of Montana. Gerry worked for Heinrich Jewelers and Flowers. Upon Dan s graduation, they moved to Bozeman and started their family. They and two young sons moved back to Great Falls where Dan started his first radio station, later to become KQDI. They continued their broadcasting career with the construction of KRTV. Gerry and Dan had three children, David, Randy and Jacque. Gerry assisted Dan, but her first love was her home and family, insisting on family and recreation time camping and time with her parents on Flathead Lake. Gerry and Dan divorced and Gerry returned to broadcasting, working for KKGF in Great Falls, eventually serving as sales manager. She sent her children to college and, in 1975, moved to her own lakeshore home on Flathead Lake, continuing in sales for KOFI radio. She loved selling advertising, writing ad copy and becoming great friends with her customers. She was an avid gardener, swam in the lake daily and loved cooking for family gatherings. Early-morning water skis or sails on Flathead Lake were a favorite. She retired and moved to Missoula in 1995. She became a Griz fan and was widely known as Gramma Griz, with e-mail addresses to match. She attended many home and away football games. Her family remained her first priority, now tracking grandchildren from infancy through college graduation. Gerry was a lifelong Methodist, starting at the First Methodist in Great Falls, continuing with the Somers United Methodist and finishing with the First United Methodist in Missoula. She attended Bible studies under the Rev. Hugh Herbert and donated many hours to the church s gardens and flowers. She moved to Village Senior Residence in 2007, where she made many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Esther; her brothers, Jim and John Jack Feiden; her sisters, Connie Byers and Vivian Wraalstad; and her niece, Debbie Feiden Grasseschi. She is survived by her children, David Snyder and Gloria Wong of Los Angeles, and Melissa and Mackynze; Randy and Linda Snyder of Bigfork, and Tristan, Arielle and Aftan; and Jacque and Loring Walawander of Missoula, and Luke. Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 30, at the First United Methodist Church in Missoula.