Geraldine “Gerri” Ketterling
On October 7, 2019 Heaven gained another angel. Gerri lost her battle with COPD and lung cancer. Mom was born July 15, 1938 to Phillip and Esther Knaub in Billings MT. She grew up in the Shepherd Worden area most of her life. Mom quit school after the 8thgrade to stay home and help with her 5 siblings while their parents both worked on farms.
Mom met and fell in love with Leonard Ketterling and they married on July 27, 1955. They had 7 children. Mom and dad lived in Billings but moved to the Huntley Project area in the late 60’s. She stayed at home and raised us kids until the older ones were in their teens. She worked various jobs including cleaning motel rooms and for awhile was a prep cook at the Long Branch Cafe. Eventually, mom became a custodial janitor at the Huntley Project Schools which she enjoyed. She loved talking with the students as several of them were her grandchildren. When they moved back to Billings in the 80s she retired. When dad fell ill they moved back to Worden in the early 90s and she has lived there since.
Mom was a simple person but very loving and giving. Her pride was her children and grand children and great grandchildren. She loved it when we would have family get togethers. Mom was an excellent cook and baker. She generally had something baked whenever you came to visit. Mom liked to bake cakes and over the years made special character cakes for her grandkids. Each one was special as she put a lot of love in them. At Christmas we would all gather at her house and there was always plates of yummy homemade candies and cookies baked goods.
After dad passed, mom and her sister-in-law Delores Ketterling did some traveling. They went to Alaska, Germany, Netherlands and other European places. They had a lot of fun and she always brought back a souvenir for each of her kids. They would make several trips to Deadwood, ND as they both loved to dabble at gambling. She enjoyed her travels.
Mom was a special person to all her family. She was an upbeat, happy woman who made everybody feel special. Growing up our house was always full of kids as our friends came over. Mom made them feel welcome and if they were over enough times, she treated them the same as her own. It was the norm to have a house full of people when we were growing up with kids and family. Mom was at the center always making sure everyone had something to eat and had a good time. Raising 7 kids is not an easy task but mom made it look easy. She was always putting out “fires” and taking care of sick kids and boo-boos and she never complained.
Mom is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, father, Phillip, brother Raymond Knaub, sisters Donna Hill and Janet Hayman and father-in-law and mother-in-law Adam and Mabel Ketterling and several brother and sister-in-laws. She is also preceded in death by granddaughter Rochelle Ketterling and great grandson, Hayden Ketterling and great granddaughter, Ella Anderson.
She is survived by her children Brad (Kathy) Ketterling of Worden, Brenda (Dave) Domke of Billings, Bruce (Chris ) Ketterling of Billings, Bernice (Jess) LePage of Shepherd, Bev Specht of Billings, Barry (Shannon) Ketterling of Casper,Wy and Blake Ketterling of Worden, her mother, Esther Knaub of Billings, brother, Roger Knaub of Billings, sister, Marlene (Phil) Fenwick of Billings, 23 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren and several sister-in-laws and a brother-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are Friday, October 11, 2019 at Smith’s Funeral Chapel 925 S 27thSt with burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Reception to celebrate mom’s life will be at Homesteader Hall, Osborn Park, Huntley, MT after services.
Mom, we love you and you are greatly missed. You were an awesome mom and such a great role model to us all. Your strength and positive attitude through your fight were such an example of the person you were. Till we all meet again.
Geraldine was so kind to me when I visited and played at the house as a child. My deepest condolences to your family.