Gertrude "Gertie" Gesinger
January 18, 1930 — October 15, 2015
Gertrude "Gertie" Gesinger, 85, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at Aberdeen Health and Rehab in Aberdeen, SD.
Gertie was born on January 18, 1930 to John and Mathilda Hoffmann, at Venturia, ND. She attended high school in Ashley, ND, and later the Jamestown Business School in Jamestown, ND.
Gertie was a dynamic and curious individual, whose career varied from being a deputy sheriff in the McIntosh County Sheriff's office in Ashley, ND, office manager for the chaplain service at the North Dakota State Hospital and as assistant Stutsman County Clerk of Courts, both in Jamestown, ND. She later became a small business owner of Wicker & Things in Ashley, ND. Ever stretching herself, she sought and received an Associate of Arts degree as a Mental Health Technician in 1977 from The University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.
Widowed as a young woman, she worked continuously while raising five children as a single mother; Gertie lived with a deep sense of love and caring for her family and children. She enjoyed an active life, with a love for the dance, cooking, sewing, collecting memorabilia, and playing cards.
Gertie did it her way.
She is survived by her children: Terrance Harter, Canyon Lake, TX, Deborah Harter Genetzky, Monument, CO, Patricia (Robert) Reede Couser, Aberdeen, SD, Donald (Janet) Harter Madison, WI, and Ronald (MaryJo) Harter, Austin, TX; her brother, Rueben Hoffmann, Aberdeen, SD; her sister, Clara Kost, Ashley, ND; ten grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Gertie blessed the lives of three husbands who preceded her, including Clarence Harter, Ashley, ND, Joseph Lacher, Venturia, ND, and Ambrose Gesinger, Aberdeen, SD.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 31, 2015, at Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, SD, with Father Michael Griffin officiating.