Geraldine Mintling

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

She was born December 16, 1929, at Culbertson, 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. Theirs 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 look out 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; Zane, Jay, and Sydney Mintling of Hayes Center; one brother Don (wife Glynn) Fagerstone; one sister Barbara (husband Gayle) Prottsman of Haxtun, Colorado; also sisters-in-law Wanda Johnson of Broken Bow and Wilma Christner of Cozad; also nieces and nephews and many friends.

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

Memorials may be given in her name.

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

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