Geraldine B. Mintling

Dec. 16, 1929-July 31, 2011

HAYES COUNTY, Nebraska -- Geraldine Bernice Mintling, long-time Hayes County resident, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2011, at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska.

She was born Dec. 16, 1929, in Culbertson, Nebraska, at the home of her grandmother, Mary McMullen. Her parents were Victor John and Silva Vida (McMullen) Fagerstone and she grew up on their farm in southern Hayes County.

She attended Blackwood rural school and graduated in 1948 from Hayes County High School, where she took "normal training" to be a teacher. After high school she taught in several Hayes County rural schools, the last one being about a mile from the Mintling ranch.

On June 8, 1951, she and Eldon Mintling were married at Bethel Missionary Church west of Culbertson. Their wedding was the first wedding in this church. They moved to the Mintling Ranch where they spent their entire married life. This ranch, established in 1878, was the site of the Grand Duke Alexis buffalo hunt and the first post office, Carrico, in Hayes County, where the house now sits. In 1985, the family was recognized as a Pioneer Farm Family. She lived in Hayes Center for a while before moving to Highland Park Retirement Center in McCook.

Geraldine was a Girl Scout during World War II and participated in the canteen serving food to the troops as they passed through North Platte on the train. She was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church, the Women's Missionary Society, taught Sunday School, and worked with GMG, a girls' group. In her later years, she enjoyed golfing and was active in the Hayes County Historical Society and Gorgeous Grannies Red Hatters.

Gerry, as she was known to many, liked to participate in plays at school and at church. She loved to cook and bake for her family and friends and was always on the lookout for a new recipe to try.

She is survived by four children, Karen of McCook, Kenneth (wife, Barbara) of Pompey's Pillar, Montana, Wayne (wife, Shelly) of Culbertson, and John (wife, Nanci) of Hayes Center; grandchildren include Josh (wife, Kelli) Mintling and great-­grandson, Caleb Mintling of Washington, Dustin Mintling of McCook, Derrek, Shayne and Brody Mintling of Culbertson and Zane, Jay, and Sydney Mintling of Hayes Center; one brother, Don (wife, Glynn) Fagerstone; one sister, Barbara (husband, Gayle) Prottsman of Haxtun, Colorado; sisters-in-law, Wanda Johnson of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and Wilma Christner of Cozad, Nebraska; also nieces and nephews and many friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Eldon, in August of 1997; her parents; a baby brother; infant grandson, Jeremiah Mintling; and brother, Dale Fagerstone.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Visitation is today at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home until 8 p.m. with the family present from 4-6 p.m. to greet friends.

Funeral services are Thursday at Bethel Baptist Church in Hayes Center, at 11 a.m., with Pastor Luke Wolford officiating. Burial will be in Hayes Center Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7 (KJV)