Geraldine Geri Emmert, 77

Geraldine Geri Emmert, 77, of Raton, N.M., passed away March 17, 2010, in Raton, after a courageous, hard-fought battle with cancer. She was born June 3, 1932, in White Bear Lake, Minn. She was the first-born daughter of Frank F. Newbury and Mary Hare Newbury. In the spring of 1945, Geri moved from Wisconsin to Montana with her folks and six siblings living in a tin shack built on the back of a 1 1/2 ton 37 Chevy truck. They settled in the Olney area. Geri was a spunky, young gal who in her childhood loved to box with her older brothers. While attending Whitefish High School, she worked as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for a well-respected doctor, going home only on the weekends. After graduating, Geri went to work for Hendricksen Motors in Kalispell. It was then, on her daily carpool commuting, that she got to know the love of her life William Bill Emmert. Bill and Geri were married on Sept. 7, 1952, and would have celebrated their 58th anniversary this year. They have four children, 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Geri had a real passion and appreciation for life, laughter and family. She would often say that keeping one s sense of humor was essential to preserving one s sanity through life s many struggles. She had an exceptional knack for interior decorating and had great, largely unexplored, artistic potential. Geri particularly enjoyed travel and her long rides through the countryside with family and friends. Therapy for the soul, she would often say! Perhaps her greatest gift was her deep sense of compassion for those who were suffering emotionally or from physical illness. She would literally spend days upon days searching through her vast medical library to find some comfort and direction for those in need, at times even putting her own well-being at risk. Even though she experienced a lifetime of serious health issues she always praised God for his love and mercy. The last several years she was intensely focused on knowing God. She committed to countless hours of prayer and study of the Scripture just to get close to Him. Her family and friends take great comfort knowing she is now at peace and made whole, resting in His presence after such a long hard battle. She was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Quilling; nephew, Robert Bobby Eyre; nephew, Glen Speer; great-nephew, Erin Emmert; and grandson, Joseph Reid. She is survived by her husband, Bill Emmert, of Raton, N.M.; children, Kathy and Roger McFadden of Columbia Falls, Tina Reid of Raton, Scott and Monica Emmert of Kalispell, and Terry and Katie Emmert of Douglas, Wyo.; brothers and sisters, Frank and Sally Newbury of Whitefish, Gerald and Mary Newbury of Whitefish, Carol Newbury Howe of Livingston, Millie Newbury Gee of Denver, Colo., and Helen and Randy Petsch of La Mesa, Calif.; and also Don and Joyce Emmert, and Evan and Shirley Speer, of Columbia Falls. A memorial will be held in Kalispell at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish.