Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271881
Title: Geraldine J. Kirby
Date: 7/2/1933-10/5/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 7/2/1933
Summary: Geraldine J. Kirby, 92, of Williston, ND, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 5, 2025, at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Williston. Geraldine’s Mass of Christian burial was held October 11, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston. She was laid to rest at the Hauge Cemetery, southwest of Alamo, ND. Geraldine was born in Crosby, ND, on July 2, 1933, to Albert and Olivene (Murphy) Koppang. She attended Outlook Country school No. 3 for eight years and then high school in Alamo. She attended Minot State College for one year and earned a teaching certificate. Geraldine taught school for one year at Blooming Prairie, where she lived in the basement of the one room schoolhouse. During the colder months, early in the morning, Gerry would get the coal burning stove started so the children had heat for the day. During this time, she met her husband Robert (Bob) Kirby. Bob and Gerry were married on August 22, 1953, in Crosby. Eventually they moved to Williston to raise their family. Gerry took on the role of mom and homemaker. We were all spoiled on mom’s cooking and baking. We have all strived to be as good a cook as she was but really nothing could compare to hers. In addition to raising seven children, she taught Sunday school, worked at JCPenney and Degree Jewelry, as well as at UND-W, where she began as a cook and later became the bookstore manager. Gerry was just honored by the Williston State College Foundation and received an award for Outstanding Faculty and Staff. Bob and Geraldine enjoyed many years of traveling together. They would snowbird down in Arizona and Texas, visiting their children, and enjoyed going on cruises and many bus trips with their good friends. Bob and Geraldine attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she was active in Catholic Daughters and Altar Band. She was also a member of the Red Hats Society and enjoyed her weekly pinochle game with friends. Geraldine had a love for her puppies, Little Ann, Cricket, and many grand puppies. Geraldine is survived by her children, Monte (Mary) Kirby of Woodbury, MN, Scott (Sandy) Kirby of Tempe, AZ, Lynn (Margaret) Kirby of Maricopa, AZ, Guy Kirby of Naples, ID, Robin (Stuart) Nicolai of Lakehills, TX, Gerrie Lea (Jeff Bonsness) of Bismarck, ND, Les (Lori) Kirby of Spokane, WA; brother, Lowell (Pat) Koppang of Williston, ND; sisters, Maxine Renner of Alamo, ND, Connie West of Quincy, CA, Naomi Rusdal of Forsyth, MT; sister-in-law, Marietta Koppang of Williston, ND; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Bob; her parents; her brother, Albert (Buddy) Koppang; brothers-in-law, Bob Rusdal, Leon West, Alfred Renner; grandson, Mikey Kirby; granddaughter, April Kirby.
Red ID: FND_I_79376 Image ID: 538547 Image Notes: FND001 271881

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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