Geraldine Dye

On January 12, 1931, during a heavy snow storm, Geraldine, an only child was born to Maurice and Leona (Vrieze) Holets in Rochester, Minnesota. At the age of 4 or 5 she decided she didn't like her given name and couldn't really pronounce it for the first several years. She gave herself the name of Jerry which was later changed to Gerri. The family moved to Billings when she was five. The block on which they lived on the south side was among the few that were not inundated by the flood of 1937. She remembered watching the Northern Hotel burn to the ground noting that she got to stay up most of the night to watch. She attended Garfield School and later North Park School. She graduated from Senior High School in 1948. During World War II the family lived in Lubbock, Texas where her father was an instructor of glider pilots in the Army Air Corps at South Plains AFB. The family finally returned to Billings in 1947. Gerri graduated from Billings Senior High in 1948 and married Alvin Dye, a seismologist. They moved 13 times in the first six months, finally settling in Riverton, Wyoming long enough for son Ronald to be born in Lander as Riverton didn't have a hospital at the time. Following were moves in Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and California. During this time, daughter Elizabeth was born in Oklahoma and daughter Deborah was born in Texas. In 1957, Gerri and her three small children followed her husband to Brazil; first in Salvador da Bahia and later Rio de Janeiro where they resided for a total of almost eleven years. During the time in Rio she found great satisfaction in volunteering at a clinic and food distribution station in a slum district. She became quite fluent in Portuguese. She also learned to play golf and worked with the American Catholic Church and School that the children attended. Returning to Billings in 1968, Gerri worked as a floral designer at the original Volley's Flowers in the Northern Hotel and distinctive Creations in Alpine Village. During tax season she also worked the night shift for the Yellowstone County Treasurer's office. She started working for School District #2 in 1972 and retired in 1997 after 25 years. She was secretary for the Summer Driver Education Program from 1973 to 1978. She was a chaperon for the students enrolled in the NJROTC program at both West and Senior High Schools for ten years. She was proud to say she had worked at each of the three high schools and made many friends, but mostly proud that all three of her children graduation from Senior High School. Gigi or Grandma Gigi to the grandchildren and great grandchildren, she did not get to see them too often as they were scattered across the U.S. She did enjoy them whenever they were visiting. Gerri loved her yard. She landscaped the front and back yards of the home she bought in 1991 changing it several times over the years. With the help of Chad Evert, a Skyview student, her son Ron and Mike Becker, his father-in-law, a circular rose garden was constructed and dedicated to her late mother who loved roses. She also built an oriental garden with the help of her grandson Shane and some of her friends, incorporating both Chinese and Japanese influences. Friends called it her meditation garden. She was a member of AARP, American Legion Aux. And Royal Neighbors of America. Surviving are her son Ronn Dye (Melissa) of Billings, daughters Elizabeth Patefield (John) of Kalispell, Deborah Townsend (Jeffery) of Brooklyn Park, Minn., 11 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Also surviving are close friends, Ron and Ronda Bachman, and Florence Massey. She is grateful for all of her neighbors' kindness and for being there in times of need. Preceding her in death are her parents, great granddaughter, Alyson Cox, Grandfather Aaron Vrieze, Uncle Lyle Vrieze, and her former husband Alvin Dye.