Obituary - Geraldine Mae Lenhardt

Geraldine Mae Lenhardt, 97, passed away at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook, MT, April 14, 2023.

A funeral service will be held April 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the American Lutheran Church in Chinook, MT. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Wilderness Funeral Homes of Chinook.

Gerry was born May 3, 1925, in Great Falls, MT, to John and Grace Dussault. Gerry grew up and attended school in Billings, MT. Gerry met the love of her life, Ted, and they were married December 6, 1941, they were married for 78 years. They worked for Harold and Bertha Kaufman on a dairy farm and lived in a two-room bunkhouse. In 1946, they moved to Havre, MT, and farmed for Jumbo and Evelyn Ober. In 1951, they moved to Zurich and farmed for Henry A. Kuhr, where he raised sugarbeets until 1976. In 1988, they retired and moved to Havre and lived there until 2009, when they moved to Chinook.

Gerry was an active member of the American Lutheran Church in Chinook for many years. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school and Bible school. She was a member of the Zurich home demonstration club where they met regularly. She volunteered at Northern Montana Hospital by helping with the coffee cart and the gift shop. While living in Havre she enjoyed doing the demos at the grocery store as well because she loved being around people. She really enjoyed performing her duties as Bailiff for the 17th Judicial District for many years.

Not only was she a homemaker, but she also worked alongside Ted by baling and driving the truck during sugar beet harvest. In 2006 Ted and Gerry Lenhardt were nominated and crowned King and Queen of the Second Annual Sugarbeet Festival.

Gerry loved to cook and bake. Some of her specialties were homemade bread, homemade noodles, German chocolate cake, and lemon meringue pie. Gerry's lemon meringue pie was always a hit at the church bizarre. She participated and won many awards in the Harlem Seed shows with her homemade breads and pies. She also enjoyed entering her bread in the local fairs. Not only did Gerry love baking she also enjoyed playing pinochle, bingo and entering contests. She was quite lucky and won trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas. During one of her many contests she even won a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Mom's love for her family and kind heart were always an inspiration. Ted, her children and grandchildren always came first. One of our fondest memories was watching mom and dad dance to their favorites, the waltz and especially the polka.

Gerry is survived by son Daniel Lenhardt of Chinook; daughter Sandra Boardman (Leon Chagnon) of Chinook; son Curtis (Lori) Lenhardt of Amboy WA; grandchildren Brian (Rene) Lenhardt, Angela Lenhardt, Jason Lenhardt, Nancy (Jeremy) Kinyon, and Jennifer (Jason) Metcalf; great-grandchildren Zach and Ty Kinyon, Jacob and Jaxton Theodore Metcalf, Chelsea (James) Bowie, Clifford and Chenoa Lenhardt, and five great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Lenhardt; parents; sons Gary and Roger Lenhardt, sisters, Maxine Constance Symmes, Audrey Bermes, Evelyn Ober and Uokalina Dussault.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to American Lutheran Church, PAWS of Chinook or of your choice.