Gereldene "Geri" Bakken

Gereldene "Geri" Phyllis Bakken was peacefully called home on October 27, 2019, surrounded by her family, just a few days shy of her 95th birthday, in Eventide on 8th Moorhead, MN.

Geri was the third of six children born to Erick and Grace Schultz on November 3, 1924, in Willow City, ND. She was born at the family home, in the same room as her father. She grew up on the family farm, and earned the nickname "Snookers" from a teasing uncle.

Geri graduated from high school in Omemee, ND, when she was 16. She worked with the local war rationing board for a year, then went to Washington, DC, in 1942, where she worked as a secretary in the Pentagon building. Upon returning to North Dakota she earned her associate's degree at Minot Teachers College, and subsequently taught elementary school in Velva, ND.
It was at Minot Teachers College that Geri met Robert "Bob" Bakken, whom she later married. The story is that her college sorority was serving coffee at his fraternity event; Bob immediately asked her out. They were married in 1951 and had four beautiful children together. The family initially lived in White Earth, ND, where daughter Sharon was born, then moved to Stanley, ND, where daughter Cinda and son Jon joined the family. Bob and Geri made the big move to the Duluth, MN, area in 1957, to further Bob's teaching career. Their youngest son Joel arrived in 1960. Geri and Bob built a home in Esko, MN, in 1961. This was where the children were raised and the family developed many neighborhood connections.

As the family grew, Geri took on more responsibility with the family's church, Our Savior's Lutheran. She worked as the church secretary and played the organ for more than 20 years. The Bakken family was forever touched by the untimely death of Bob and Geri's oldest daughter to a rare liver condition in 1981, and thoughts and reminders of dear Sharon continue to enter into the conversations of every family get-together.
After Bob retired, he and Geri began to winter in Florida, and they eventually bought a home near Venice. Geri loved the sunshine! She would sit outside every day after lunch. Geri and Bob golfed regularly, played bingo weekly, and had a regular bridge group. They spent summers in Clearwater, MN, located midway between the children, and the family enjoyed countless happy reunions there. After many years of being snowbirds, Bob and Geri relocated to the Fargo-Moorhead area. With Bob's health declining, Geri moved to the apartments at Eventide and faithfully cared for him and visited daily at the nursing home.

After Bob's death in 2008, Geri moved to the Carriage House apartments, where she spent the next seven years. Geri had a passion for reading. She loved classical music and was an accomplished pianist, playing her baby grand piano daily. She was a regular for coffee hour and a bridge group. With Bob gone, Geri bravely took on the task of driving, so she could go to Bible study at Trinity Lutheran and run errands. She would sometimes complain of "getting the horn" from other drivers, however. Geri valued living independently and took good care of her home and her health. She loved her family and looked forward to visits from her children and grandchildren.

In 2015 Geri experienced a health event and was subsequently unable to return home. She moved to Eventide where she spent the last four years, and passed away just down the hall from where Bob died earlier.
Geri was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; eldest daughter, Sharon Bakken; sisters, Mildred Lien and Pauline Vig; and brother, John Schultz.

She is survived by brothers, Donald and Richard Schultz; daughter, Cinda (Rick) Spieler; sons, Jon (Mary) and Joel (Jan) Bakken; grandchildren, Ken (Leah) Spieler, Clint (Mae) Spieler, Katie (Dan) Futrelle, Andrea (Lee) Richards, Andrew (Calli) Bakken, Alison Aadland, Megan Bakken, Kirstin Bakken, Adam Bakken; and ten great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Gereldene will be on Monday, November 4, 2019, from 12 noon to 2 PM followed by her funeral at 2 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel in Moorhead. Geri will be buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet, MN, on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 3PM.

The family is grateful for the care and comfort provided by Eventide on 8th in Moorhead, over the years for both Geri and Bob. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Eventide's Streed Commons project.