Gwendolyn Norma O'Hern Geil

“Live it up and enjoy every moment”

 

Our vivacious and lovable mother, Gwen, passed away peacefully and quickly on May 23rd, 2025. To many, she was their inspiration and role model of “how to be” in life – joyful, active, healthy, respectful and kind to everyone. Her exuberance for life was truly contagious. The only hard part was keeping up with her!

 

Gwendolyn Norma Keene was born Jan 12th, 1929, in Havre, MT, at the beginning of the Great Depression, to homesteading parents Marie (Nelson) and Lauren Keene. She was the youngest of 4 children, Wanda, Chuck, & Curt. They lived in the small, farming town of Box Elder in north central MT, a culturally diverse town of homesteaders, railroad workers, and the neighboring Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. Her mother’s 100% Norwegian parents and siblings, (Nelsons), homesteaded there in 1910 from Wisconsin, originally from the Lillehammer region. Her father and his brother, of Dutch/Irish/British Isles descent, also arrived at that time. The two Keene brothers came out from Minnesota for free land, and as a bonus…found and married the beautiful Nelson sisters, Marie and Lena!

 

Gwen’s childhood was spent interacting with these various families who called this harsh, dryland-farming area home; Europeans, Japanese, African Americans and Native Americans, etc; it truly was a melting pot. Everyone was part of a tight-knit community who had to be close in order to survive. Mom said they were poor, but she never knew it! They had everything they needed. No electricity or running water. Large gardens, animals, homemade clothes, woodstoves and outhouses. She raved about her wonderful childhood and loving parents and siblings! One year, between housing, they lived in the basement of the Lutheran Church. Gwen proudly remembered her dad successfully circulating a petition to prevent their local Japanese family from the internment camp during WW2.

 

For her 4th grade year, her parents had moved to Missoula to run the Hi U Café near Hellgate High. Her world expanded! Within blocks were movie theatres, bowling, and many… many boys her age, (she beamed while reminiscing). She was thrilled with sidewalks for roller skating and bike riding. (In Box Elder, she and her girlfriends had to bicycle 11 miles, each way, to the closest soda shop, in Big Sandy, to see cute boys.)  After a year of the whole family working the café, they returned to farming in Box Elder. However, Gwen was totally enthralled with Missoula and dreamed of returning.

 

Her dream came true after she graduated high school in Box Elder, valedictorian (of 5 seniors, she’d laugh). She entered U of M at 17 yrs old in 1946. Because she’d been so enamored with her local Native American neighbors, she fibbed to people she met in Missoula, saying she was “part Indian”, believing they would be impressed. A year later she fell in love with the handsome John (Jack) “Abe” O’Hern, from Butte, while she was in the Alpha Phi sorority. Jack was a returning WW2 Navy veteran who, with his ‘luck of the Irish’, was living across the street at the SAE fraternity. Lightning of love struck! He took her to visit Butte, and she was amazed and mesmerized by the vibrancy of that unique, and bustling city in the late 40’s. There was no going back to Box Elder and farm life!

 

At the end of her junior year, she moved to Helena with a girlfriend to work for a year at the VA. She was grateful for that fun and adventurous year before she married Jack the following year, 1950.  Many interesting journeys followed their marriage, first in Deer Lodge where she was secretary to the Prison Warden. She was so nervous, she shook while she took shorthand, a lost art. Their 1st son, Dan, was born there in 1951. Jack worked at the prison taking fingerprints.

 

Changes in work called Jack and the family to live in various towns. Gwen was always up for exploring new places and people. Their 2nd son Mark was born in 1954.

 

Their lives took a fantastic turn toward Canada in 1955, when Jack accepted a job offer to manage the cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia. As mom would say, “we hit the jackpot!”  They adored their 9 years there, and their daughter Leslie was born in 1957 and made a debut on Romper Room TV at 4 yrs old. Gwen loved being a mom and caring for the 4 different homes they lived in while living there. Best of all was the beach! As well as all the restaurants, entertainment, Butchart Gardens, the Empress Hotel (where Mark & Dan learned to swim at Crystal Garden), and multiple ferry trips and drives around Vancouver Island.

 

1962 brought them back to Butte, with Jack managing the Country Club. While there, we lived up on the hill on Quartz St with our grandfather Paddy O’Hern, (former lightweight boxing champion of Montana, who boxed and won in Madison Square Gardens!) Gwen went back into the world of work, doing secretarial work. Although Butte wasn’t as exotic as Victoria, Gwen loved it, along with its unique people. Jack and Gwen excitedly took our family to Columbia Gardens many times. They had danced in the big pavilion there, while dating in college in the late 40’s, dancing to live, big bands from the east coast.

 

Mom was thrilled when they were able to move to Missoula in 1965. She never left! Except for any opportunity to take a trip. She would say, “you just name the place and I’m ready to go”. The highlight of our summers was staying at the historic and rustic Glenwood cabins on the south beach at Whitefish, MT with our fun cousins, and aunts & uncles. Back in the day, long ago, when families could rent an affordable cabin on the lake!

Mom revered the Montana Grizzlies and attended her last 2 football games at 95-years-old this last fall. Her 1st game was in 1946 and her last in 2024, a 78-year span. Gwen loved people and enjoyed working for our dentist, Dr Doug Delaney for many years.

 

Gwen’s husband Jack died unexpectedly in 1982 from a health issue, when Gwen was 53. She continued living on Takima Dr in Pattee Canyon and was supported by a wide array of friends. Gwen was the life of the party. She thrived with socializing and rarely missed a chance to spend time with family or friends.  Whether it was attending her grandchildren’s school functions with her trusty camcorder, livening up holiday gatherings, all the amazing travels with her son Dan and his family, or any happy hour at any place or time… she enjoyed every minute. She delighted in meeting new people, cooking, and dancing!

 

At the end of 1985, Gwen married Bud Geil and moved with him near Rose Park. They retired together and thoroughly enjoyed their life. They bought an RV and traveled around Montana fishing and exploring. They took trips to Hawaii with friends, and to Colorado to see Leslie and family. Bud died in 2000, from health issues, when Gwen was 71 yrs old. She was still healthy and vivacious, and continued to host and entertain friends and family. Especially on her amazing deck, everyone’s favorite!

 

At 75 years of age, Gwen journeyed through Ireland, London, and Norway with her daughter looking for a likely pub to sit a spell and get to know the locals. She could be counted on to show up and make the best of every situation she was in.  With a keen sense of humor and sharp wit, she could maneuver her way through any social situation and enjoy it! And her beauty and wonderful smile were welcomed wherever she was.

 

That same year, magic happened! She attended the Box Elder high school reunion and chatted with Herb Freier, her 1st prom date. Coincidentally, his wife had died the year before. Romance sparked like wildfire, and they were like 2 teenagers in love. They grew up together, knew everyone in that small town, and had kept in touch through the years. They laughed, held hands, danced, and spent months each winter in Yuma, AZ. Herb continued to live in Havre with his kids and grandkids and visited Missoula as often as possible! He loved and adored Gwen and all the fun in Missoula.

 

In 2012, when Gwen was 83 years old, Herb joined her beloved Jack and Bud, but that didn’t hold her down. She and her best friend Myrna Kitchen, an Irish Butte gal, took Missoula by storm. 3-4 days a week they were off for lunches and happy hours, at their favorite Katie O’Keefe’s, and various other watering holes and restaurants. They were the “Golden Girls”, and when they entered, everyone noticed their radiant smiles and heard their laughter. They were feisty and fun-loving!

 

Myrna passed away in 2022 and our Gwen, had now lost her last best girlfriend in Missoula, (as well as all her siblings, parents, 2 husbands and Herb, and a lifetime of friends.) At 93 years, you’d think she’d slow down…but guess again. She continued to attend Griz games enthusiastically, go out for Happy Hour and meals whenever possible, and enjoy her family, friends, and wonderful neighbors Jone and Mike Hayes.

 

Gwen loved to reminisce and tell stories, all with an upbeat and positive spin. She lived through the depression years, WW2, the glory years of the 50’s, Vietnam war, the women’s movement, survived Y2K, and into the 21st century. She enthusiastically embraced all the new clothing trends and hair style changes. Sometimes to the great confusion of her husbands!  Sixteen presidents came and went during her lifetime.

 

In December of 2024, Gwen’s heart acted up and she spent the next 4 months away from her home-a few weeks at St. Pat’s Hospital, and then at Village Rehab and Health Care. We are all very grateful for the loving care she received at both places, and for their kind and wonderful staff. She loved the view out her window of fun squirrels and birds in the big tree.

 

Gwen was preceded in death by her parents Lauren and Marie (Nelson) Keene, favorite sister Wanda Rathert (Wolf Point), and 2 brothers Charles/Chuck and Curt Keene (Havre). Her husbands Jack O’Hern, and Bud Geil, and sweetheart Herb Freier. Her father and mother-in-law Paddy & Emma (Pichette) O’Hern and brother-in-law Pat O’Hern (Butte) & niece Cheryl O’Hern (Dave) Maclay.

 

She is survived by her sons; Dan (Cathy) O’Hern (Missoula), Mark O’Hern (Missoula), and daughter Leslie Townsend (Fort Collins, CO). 5 grandchildren; Brian (Megan) O’Hern & her favorite and only granddaughter Lisa O’Hern (Missoula), Morgan & Bob Townsend (Estes Park, CO), and Sean O’Hern (San Francisco). 5 great-grandchildren; Darien, Briley & Bennett O’Hern (Missoula) and Hanna & Mathew Townsend (Loveland, CO). Gwen also had 3 great-great granddaughters; Ariya, June, and Journi (Loveland, CO). She adored her nieces and nephews; Morris, Warren, & Steve Keene, Randi (Terry) Jarrett, Debby (Mark) Fisher, Stephanie Hoon, Jay & Lisa Keene and Nancy O’Hern Ericson, Patti O’Hern Harlan, Cathy O’Hern. She has numerous great nieces and nephews across the country.

 

A huge thank you to her amazing neighbors Mike and Jone Hayes! And to Vicki Dundas, (Sean’s mom), for all the help and love, as well as her excellent contributions to this obituary. You all went above and beyond in your love and care. She appreciated and loved you.

 

Donations can be made to Special Olympics of Montana, in honor of her amazing, granddaughter Lisa O’Hern.

 

Gwen’s Memorial Service will be held later in the summer. Notification will be sent out, or feel free to email lestown57@gmail.com for info and questions.