Gareth Schmidt

Gareth “Gerry” Gagle Schmidt, 82, of Helena, died peacefully on Sunday, January 2, 2011, surrounded by her family.

Gerry was born May 13, 1928 at Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls, a daughter of Roy Hulse and Myrtle Patton Gagle. Serendipitously, her husband Bill was born in the same hospital two months later. During the Depression, she lived next to the C. M. Russell cabin in Great Falls with her parents and grandparents. She spent her early summers in the Sun River Canyon, where her father was a wilderness ranger and landscape artist. The family moved to Helena in 1938.

She attended school through the eighth grade at Central Grade School, and graduated from Helena High School in 1946. She won an American Legion Citizenship award and participated in theater and music.
She met her life partner, Bill, when they were both 15. Gerry and Bill were married Dec. 22, 1943 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, and they shared 62 years of happiness and love.

Gerry worked for a number of years at Montana Physician’s Service/Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She also worked for the Montana Highway Dept. in accounting. Early summers of her married life were spent working for the Yellowstone Park Company in Mammoth, Wyoming. After five years of marriage, Gerry and Bill began their family of three sons.

Gerry was chairman of the board of the Helena YWCA. She was a Lady Lion and a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Green Meadow Country Club. Gerry was a stalwart of the Galusha, Higgins and Galusha wives, where her husband was a CPA for 32 years. After retiring as managing partner, Bill began his second career as an investment advisor at D. A. Davidson in Bozeman. As always, Gerry was his biggest supporter, and he was hers.

Gerry was a wonderful mother. She was always supportive of her sons’ activities and endeavors, including Scouting, skiing and school events.

She loved creating homes, and designed two of the family homes in Helena and their home in Gallatin Canyon. Special interests included oil painting, cooking, and drawing up house plans. She loved Christmas, and those were always special times for her family.

Gerry loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren. She and her sister Janet were best of friends, and Gerry was fortunate to have lifelong girlfriends who have been especially kind to her and the whole family. We thank you all.

Gerry was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Myrtle; sister, Patty; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, including a favorite uncle, Duane Gagle. Also preceding her in death were her brother-in-law Herb, and brother-in law Don and his wife Marie, Of Conrad.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Bill, and son Jon of the family home. She is also survived by son David and his wife Jeanie, and their children, Bill of Three Forks, Elizabeth of Helena and Ramie of Billings; son Paul and his son Nathan of Helena; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Janet (Tom) Clifton of Golden, Colorado and their children. Other survivors include many loving nieces and nephews and a favorite sister-in-law, Ruth Schmidt of Conrad, as well as an aunt, Eloise Gagle of Billings.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” We love and miss you, Mom, until we are together again.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home of Helena. Funeral services will be at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, with a reception following in the lower level of the church. Interment will be later in the spring at Ft. Harrison. Memorials in Gerry’s name may be sent to St. Paul’s Building Fund, 512 Logan Street, Helena, MT 59601. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.

Service Schedule

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.