Geraldine A. Kelso

Geraldine A. "Gerry" Kelso, 85, of Hinton passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hinton United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Peg Ellingson officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Gerry was born Aug. 30, 1921, to Philip and Anita (Buenger) Spies, in Merrill, Iowa. She graduated from Hinton High School.

She married Mert L. Kelso at the Milbourne Church in Hinton on July 24, 1945. He preceded her in death on Aug. 12, 2000. She spent most of her life in Hinton, but lived in Omaha, Sioux City and Pratt, Kan., for a short time. She worked and retired from Sue Bee Honey.

She was a member of Hinton United Methodist Church and enjoyed her church activities and the special peanut brittle project and "Lunch Bunch." She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a past member of the Merrill/Hinton Lions Club.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Kathy and Danny Beck of Hinton; grandchildren, Erin and her husband, Stacy Weiland and Chad Beck of Hinton; great-grandchildren, McKenna, Kyleigh and Alyssia Weiland of Hinton; a sister and her husband, Phyllis and Max Stevens of Kingsley, Iowa; two brothers, Jack and Dorothy Spies and Duane Spies of Hinton; and several nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anita and Phil Spies; her husband, Mert; a sister, Jeannette Parks; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lavonne and Melvin Bakken.

Pallbearers will be Ken Spies, Tom Spies, John Spies, Matt Spies, Loy Bakken and Bob Bennett.

Memorials may be given to the Hinton United Methodist Church.